Kaduna LG election: Persons with disability demand at least 80 percent inclusion

From Sola Ojo, Kaduna

They spoke on the sideline of a one-day roundtable discussion for stakeholders on disability inclusion in the electoral process at the grassroots level in Kaduna State organised by The All-rights Foundation popularly known as TAF Africa and supported by Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.

Chairman, the Albinism Association, Kaduna State Chapter, Abubakar Adam said, even though the PWD may not get 100 percent inclusion now, they should get at least 80 percent inclusion as Nigerian citizens.

He said, “we may not have 100 percent inclusion now because I believe the inclusion campaign is a work in progress, but, can we at least get about 80 percent so that we know that we belong here?

“Now PWD have different clusters based on their challenges. So we want a situation whereby all these challenges can be mitigated to a large extent so that PWD in the state can feel included by way of being able to vote and be voted for.

“In decision-making, we want the PWD to be involved in the planning of policies so we can co-own these policies because there is nothing for us without us”, he opined.

Chairman, Kaduna State chapter of the National Association of Persons with Physical Disability in Nigeria, Rilwan Muhammed Abdullahi said his knowledge has been broadened in the area of the electoral process particularly the sections of the electoral Act that concern PWD during electioneering.

“Again, I know better how a PWD can aspire for political ambition which before now some of us felt there are laws that prevent us from aspiring for any political position. We were made to understand that there is no law stopping anybody from contesting.

“Then, the need to engage political parties came in handy because any prospective contestant is expected to identify with a registered political party. TAF Africa has done so much in terms of involving people like me in public affairs”, he added.

Vice Chairman, Kaduna State Association of Deaf, Muhammed Musa who spoke through a sign language interpreter noted that more advocacy for deaf persons at the grassroots is germane in this social inclusion campaign.

“We need aggressive advocacy across the 23 local government areas of the state to advocate for deaf persons. We have been doing that but we need to do more in terms of inclusion of PWD in our local politics.

“As far as this meeting is concerned, I learned how we deaf can come together to achieve our goal and push and fight for our rights”.

Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, Suleiman Salim Aliyu hinted that the board was working with the Kaduna State House of Assembly to draft a bill that will allow special treatment for PWD in public service space.

Programme Manager, TAF Africa, Adeolu Kilanko said, “we organised this roundtable discussion with stakeholders in Kaduna state to support them in their respective roles to prioritising mainstreaming the PWD in the electoral processes, especially concerning the forthcoming local government election in the State.

“We have Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM), Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.

“We also got some regional bodies like Southern Kaduna People’s Union among others to utilise their voice to mobilise the PWD to come out to vote and be voted for in elections in the state”