By Dorcas Elusogbon
TAF Africa, the All-Rights Foundation, on Friday sensitised Persons With Disabilities (PWD) on their voting rights ahead of the Aug. 15 governorship election in Osun.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the sensitisation was held at the back of Sijuwade Memorial Hall, Enuwa Area, Ile-Ife.
Speaking, Dr Andrew Adaji, the Project Manager of TAF Africa, said the programme was organised to encourage greater participation of persons with disabilities in electoral process.
Adaji said the programme was to enlighten participants on their voting rights, identified challenges they encountered during previous elections, and to promote inclusive and accessible electoral participation.
He said that TAF Africa would meet with the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, to discuss barriers faced by persons with disabilities during previous elections.
According to him, TAF Africa partners with INEC on disability inclusion and supported recent elections in Anambra and Ekiti States with sign language interpreters for deaf voters.
The TAF Africa project manager added that the organisation would provide 25 sign language interpreters for the forthcoming Osun governorship election, advocating for their engagement as INEC ad hoc personnel.
He urged electoral officials to make polling units accessible, noting that ballot boxes should be lowered for wheelchair users instead of lifting voters to cast ballots.
Adaji also warned against vote-buying and electoral violence, adding that TAF Africa would deploy 150 observers using a mobile application to report election-day challenges.
Contributing, Mr Adebusoye Alaba, Ife Zonal Coordinator of Persons with Disabilities, appreciated TAF Africa, pledging members’ commitment to vote responsibly while rejecting vote-buying and other electoral offences. (NAN)
Edited by Tayo Ikujuni