Protect Physically-Challenged Voters, PWDs Beg INEC

Tolu Bankole, the National Leader of People with Disabilities of All Progressives Congress, has made an appeal to INEC.

The man, on Wednesday, appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to make provisions for the safety of physically-challenged persons ahead of Saturday’s presidential election.

The plea is coming four months after the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Political Intelligence, Abiodun Abu, made a similar request.

Abu urged INEC to provide braille ballot papers, interpreters and other measures to assist the PWDs to cast their votes at the general elections.

The governor’s aide made the appeal during a media parley with journalists to celebrate persons with disabilities in Lagos.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Bankole expressed concerns that unless a special arrangement is put in place, it could expose many PWDs to assault and harassment during the accreditation and voting process.

He said, “I want to appeal to you to be orderly on Election Day. Let’s all work for a peaceful transition. No one, no matter how highly placed, should assault, harass or threaten PWDs as they lawfully go about performing their civic duty.

“I, therefore, call on INEC and security agencies to take effective measures for better protection of Persons with Disabilities on election day as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2022.

“Finally, I want to remind the PWDs, your creed on the day of the election must be safety first. Do not engage in any activity which will put you in danger. Stay alive to enjoy the prosperity order of the Tinubu/Shettima administration.”

While harping on the need to midwife a seamless transition, the PWD leader called on his supporters to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

He stated that feelers from the six geopolitical zones have indicated that the former governor of Lagos would coast home to victory.

“Barely days to the presidential election, it is becoming obvious to all that the winning train of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as amplified by the nationwide support are the consensus choice of Nigerians.

“Based on available intelligence from Nigeria and the international communities, Tinubu has been tipped to win the presidential election come February 25.

“Therefore, I want to urge all undecided electorates to cast their votes for the winning team because Tinubu/Shettima ticket has all it takes for the unity, progress and development of the country.”