Ekiti 2022: PWDs Threaten Court Action against INEC over Alleged Exclusion

People living With Disabilities (PWDs) have threatened to take the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court for alleged exclusion of their members in the electoral process in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday after presenting a report if its findings about the impending poll, the Executive Director, Centre for Citizens’ Living With Disabilities (CCLWD), Dr. David Anyaele, said the National Disability Law has mandated INEC to provide materials for inclusion of PWDs in all elections.

Anyaele said every attempt to prevent members of the group from voting due to INEC’s laxity would be challenged in court, saying such would amount to a breach of the law signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

On the issue of security, Anyaele posited that the PWDs are deeply worried due to persistent cases of thuggery during election, urging INEC to partner the police and other security agencies to checkmate the ugly scenario.

According to him, “Up to now, we learnt that INEC has not made some materials ready to sensitise the PWDs, particularly the form EC40H. It is also the duty of the commission to allow the deaf to bring sign specialists to polling units for proper voting. To resolve this, there must be disability desk officers across all the polling units.

“The reason we are here is to hold INEC into account. It is no longer a charity for INEC to provide enabling environment for PWDs to vote. Before, INEC may provide materials for PWDs to participate, but the law has changed it to INEC shall do it.