By Lucky Isibor
As preparations for the September 21 Edo State governorship election enters its crucial stage, members of the disability community have vowed to deliver more than 10,000 votes to the candidate they’ll eventually throw their weight behind adding that they always vote the same party and candidate they zero in on.
The chairperson of the Edo State chapter of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPD), Ann Ujugo stated this in Benin City while fielding questions from newsmen on preparations made by all the election agencies to ensure people with disabilities are able to exercise their civic responsibility during the election.
While pointing out that the disability community have more than 10,000 votes, Ojugo disclosed that an interactive session with all the governorship candidates of the various political parties have been arranged to give the candidates the opportunity to meet with persons with disabilities, hear their expections while the candidates will also share with them what they have for them after which a decision will be taken on the candidate to vote
“As at the last election we have more than 10,000 voters and these votes have multiplier effect as people with disabilities have care givers, family members and dependants and it’s the direction we go during voting these people will also go to”.
Persons with disabilities have a bloci vote, because as a PWD, we have people who are directly under me and any party I am voting for is the party they’re also voting for. We have been trying to interface with with the governorship candidates of the various political parties in a round table. As PWDs we’re a community of of its own, we are six clusters made up of JONAPD, it’s a coalition of all PWDs and we have members in all the 18 LGAs. That’s why we want to interface with them. What we’re actually looking for from who ever emerges as Governor is that the Disability Commission
On what the group would be expecting from the incoming administration, Ojugo said, “What we’re actually looking for from who ever emerges as Governor is that the Disability Commission should be put in place in Edo State.
“During the time of our outgoing Governor, Governor Obaseki did well by signing into law the Discrimination Against Persons With Disability Prohibition Law. Now we need the establishment of the Disability Commission to implement the provisions of that law. That’s the first thing we need from the incoming Governor. That’s why we want to interface with all the governorship candidates”.
Ann Ojugo, chairperson of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities JONAPD, Edo State
What are your expectations for the election as regards Persons with Disabilities?
My expectations firstly starts with INEC preparedness. We had a meeting with INEC a few days ago and they assured us that the election will be all inclusive with an enabling environment for Persons with disabilities to come out to cast their vote. They said the have all the gadgets, assisting devices that will aid persons with disabilities to vote, like the magnifying lens for people with albinism, then the ballot boxes are not going to be placed on top of tables or where people with disabilities can not cast their votes, the have the braille ballot paper for Persons with visual impairment to vote and there will be a sign post guide that they have made for persons with disabilities to vote.
Persons with disabilities have aa block vote, because as a PWD, we have people who are directly under me and any party I am voting for is the party they’re also voting for. We have been trying to interface with with the governorship candidates of the various political parties in a round table. As PWDs we’re a community of of its own, we are six clusters made up of JONAPD, it’s a coalition of all PWDs and we have members in all the 18 LGAs. That’s why we want to interface with them. What we’re actually looking for from who ever emerges as Governor is that the Disability Commission should
That’s why we want to interface with them. What we’re actually looking for from who ever emerges as Governor is that the Disability Commission should be put in place in Edo State. During the time of our outgoing Governor, Governor Obaseki did well by signing into law the Discrimination Against Persons With Disability Prohibition Law. Now we need the establishment of the Disability Commission to implement the provisions of that law. That’s the first thing we need from the incoming Governor. That’s why we want to interface with all the governorship candidates. We are hoping that the election in Edo State is going to be peaceful because Edo people are peaceful and persons with disabilities will also come out to vote. I’ve talked to our people across the 18 LGA, that we are coming out in the morning to cast our vote; after which they go home to await the result.
The interface is holding on 5th, 6th &7th September at Protea Hotel, we hope to have a day each for the candidates of the three major political parties and we’re being supported by our partners, RoLAC and the ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues.
As at the last election we have more than 10,000 voters and these votes have multiplier effect as people with disabilities have care givers, family members and dependants and it’s the direction we go during voting these people will also go to.