2023 Elections: PWDs Are Excluded From Political Participation – CCD

As the 2023 general elections draw nearer, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has raised concern over the exclusion of Persons with Disabilities by most of the political parties in the country.

During a Press Conference organised by CCD in Lagos State, Mr. David Anyaele (Executive Director, CCD) revealed the level of discrimination experienced by persons with disabilities in participating in politics.

“Ahead of the 2023 General Elections, Persons with Disabilities efforts in participating in the forthcoming general elections reveal that most political parties' programs and activities are not inclusive of persons with disabilities, as PwDs is missing in most of the political hierarchies. Political party’s conventions were conducted with the election of party leaders and flag-bearer from the state houses of assembly, house of representatives, the senate, governorship and for the office of the president without any persons with Disabilities”

“A case in point is an aspirant with a disability, Mr. Aduku Emmanuel, who won the APC primary election with 20 votes for Ankpa 1 state constituency for the Kogi State house of assembly, only for his party to substitute his name with a name of Mr. Lawal Aku, a person without a disability who has just 4 votes”

He also calls for equal opportunity and inclusion of persons with disabilities by political parties.

“The political parties to take an appropriate measure that creates space for equal opportunity by ensuring that persons with Disabilities are included in the campaign committees, campaign podiums are accessible to all with the provision of sign language interpreters, access to information, and disability inclusive manifesto and so on. This is critical because this time around persons with disabilities will not only like to be seen but they also want to be heard” he said.

Mr. Oguntoye Akintunde, the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Orientation, LASODA also stressed the need for more awareness created by the political parties. “Persons with Disabilities are ready to participate, however, for PwDs to participate more awareness must be created by the political parties”. He said.