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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
A nongovernmental organization, Cedar Seed Foundation has lamented that persons with disabilities are being sidelined in electoral and political appointments in the country.
Speaking during the World Press Conference on Disability Inclusion in Governance,in Abuja, yesterday,the founder of Cedar Seed Foundation, Louis Auta, said that it is saddened that zero percent of women and girls with disabilities participate in governance.
She insisted that women with disabilities are continually marginalised, excluded and underrepresented in elections and political participation.
Auta stated that Nigeria can only get the renewed hope if the women and girls with disabilities are allowed to participate in governance and decision making process.
“All strategies to fast track this implementation has to be explored, including the article 29 of the UNCRPD and section 30 of the Nigeria Disability Act 2018.
“So therefore, an informed and proactive measures is needed to achieve and sustain the global inclusivity in all electoral processes most importantly post 2023 elections and future election.”
Auta noted that as a vital step towards inclusion, there should be concrete implementation of Clause 54 of the Electoral Act 2022.
She also stated that there would be a national dialogue with the first lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the inclusion of women with disabilities in the renewed Hope initiative and other women communities.
She, therefore called on all women with disabilities to come out and participate actively in politics and also aspired for political position in their various political parties and communities.
The Project Officer Disability Inclusion in Government Rose Daniel stated that the existing legal framework of persons with disabilities need to be adequately executed.
She highlighted that the objective of the project to include, “to ensure no one including women with disabilities is left behind in political participation and the decision making process,specifically target people with disabilities for political participation, involvement in decision making and the robust implementation of Clause 54 of the electoral act 2022 and also to create a dynamic platform where disability experts, donors agencies civil society organisations and policy formulators and implementers can collaborate.
Similarly, Cynthia Ukachi On her part recommended that there should be voters and civic education among women with disabilities, adding that the voice of disabilities women on the post-2023 election pushing for inclusion should be amplified.
