The Albino Foundation (TAF) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make the forthcoming general election inclusive, especially for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs.
The Chief Executive and Founder of TAF, Jake Epelle, made the call at a one-day capacity building workshop on inclusive media reportage for the February/March general election in Abuja at the weekend.
Epelle disclosed that the Foundation would be launching an Application that will contain the data of eligible PWDs voters who would be participating in the 2023 elections.
According to him, the data which is related to the electoral process will guide INEC on where to deploy resources on election day to enable the PWDs exercise their franchise.
“We are deploying what we call the PWD Election hub and we are also launching the PWD dashboard. The dashboard will actually tell you the eligible PWDs who are going to vote in the forthcoming election.
“We are also launching an App in which the media can use its reportage. All of these would be formally launched. We are waiting for INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu to give us a date on when it will be launched because this new project is related to the electoral process.
“We have a golden opportunity driven by science. Now, we have the data. It is not as comprehensive as all the eligible voters in the country but it is a step in the right direction.
“Now, INEC has no reason not to make this forthcoming election inclusive because we are telling them that these are the number of PWDs and this is where to deploy the resources. The report that we are giving to INEC is not only about numbers, but we are telling them where they will go and drop all the needed resources,” he said.
Epelle stated that PWDs do not participate in the electoral process because of voter apathy as they do not know the provisions that are available for them to participate effectively.
“They do not know the process and procedures to follow to participate in the electoral process,” he said, appealing to journalists to help report and highlight issues affecting PWDs which should continually be in the news.
He said media reports would help TAF “get policy makers and international partners aware of the main challenges we are trying to solve as an organisation.”
