The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ondo State has reaffirmed its commitment to improving electoral participation among persons with disabilities, PWDs, assuring them of continued efforts to make elections more accessible and inclusive.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, gave the assurance during a one-day workshop organised to sensitise PWDs on measures designed to improve their participation in the electoral process.
The workshop brought together leaders of different disability groups, including persons with visual and hearing impairments, persons with albinism, and representatives of other disability communities across the state.
Speaking at the programme, Agboke said the Commission was committed to removing barriers that could prevent eligible voters with disabilities from exercising their voting rights.
He said, “INEC will continue to take deliberate steps to improve electoral participation among persons with disabilities and ensure that eligible voters can participate in elections without unnecessary barriers.”
The REC explained that the Commission was implementing measures to make polling environments more accessible and provide assistive devices that would enable PWDs to vote independently while maintaining the secrecy of their ballots.
According to him, “Our commitment is to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise their franchise independently, with dignity and without compromising the secrecy of their votes.”
Agboke urged participants to share the information and knowledge acquired during the workshop with members of their respective disability groups across Ondo State to promote wider awareness of the Commission’s interventions.
He said, “I encourage all participants to take this information back to their various communities and disability groups so that more people can understand the available support and participate actively in the electoral process.”
The REC also assured participants that adequate security arrangements would be made to protect voters against intimidation during elections, emphasising the need to create an atmosphere in which every eligible voter could participate freely.
He added that PWDs who had applied to serve as ad hoc staff during forthcoming elections would have their applications duly considered, provided they met the Commission’s requirements.
Responding, the Ondo State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Abiodun Oluwasegun, commended INEC’s leadership for its efforts to make voting more accessible to persons with disabilities.
Oluwasegun said, “We appreciate INEC’s interventions aimed at ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the electoral process. These initiatives will encourage more members of our community to participate in elections.”
He expressed confidence that the measures would strengthen participation among PWDs and enable more members of the disability community to exercise their voting rights without discrimination.
The technical sessions were facilitated by Awelewa Mojisola, who represented the Director of INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department at the Commission’s headquarters.
She demonstrated assistive devices designed to support voters with different disabilities.
The devices showcased included magnifying glasses, Braille ballot guides, and posters designed for persons with hearing impairments. Participants also took part in practical sessions on how to use the materials during elections.
INEC reiterated its commitment to strengthening electoral inclusivity and ensuring that no eligible voter was disenfranchised because of disability.
The Commission also urged stakeholders to support efforts to improve access to the electoral process across Ondo State.
INEC sensitises Ondo PWDs, reaffirms commitment to inclusive elections