Edo Election: TAF Africa makes case for 4,199 registered PWDs voters
The media and CSOs plays a critical role in ensuring transparency in the electoral process. They should hold INEC and political parties accountable for delivering a free and inclusive election.
TAF Africa, a disability inclusion champion organisation, has called on INEC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure eligible voters with disability got a fair and inclusive rights during the Edo governorship election.
Amb Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer, TAF Africa, made the call during the organisation’s pre election news conference in Benin on Friday.
Epelle said TAF Africa was committed to ensuring that eligible voters with disabilities cast their votes in a fair and accessible environment.
“According to official data, 2, 629,025 voters are registered for the Edo election, including 4,199 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
“This reflects an increase in the engagement of PWDs since the last governorship election in 2020 in the state,” he said.
He, therefore, tasked INEC to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act, Section 54, Sub-sections 1 and 2 to provide assistive tools for PWDs participating in the Edo election.
“These tools include Braille Ballot guides for the blind, magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, written instructions for the deaf and ensuring priority voting for PWDs,” he said.
He urged all registered PWDs voters in the state to come out and exercise their rights to vote for the candidates of their choice.
The organisation also tasked the media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to actively report on issues concerning the participation of PWDs in the Edo election.
‘The media and CSOs plays a critical role in ensuring transparency in the electoral process. They should hold INEC and political parties accountable for delivering a free and inclusive election.
Epelle noted that TAF Africa had upgraded its election observers App to allow for swift report and documentation of any irregularities in the election.
He also said that TAF Africa was deploying 20 trained stationary observers across polling units wirh registered PWDs in the state.
‘In addition, we have assigned five roving media observers to monitor the election across the different regions.”
Supreme News reports that TAF Africa has set up a PWD Election Hub in Benin, which is being used for press briefing and election situation room.
A delegation from the European Union and Embassy of France as well as the Chairperson, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Ann Ojogu were at the briefing.