Citizens with disabilities condemn exclusion of members from PDP Exco

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities has chided the Peoples Democratic Party for not including persons with disability in leadership positions at the party’s just concluded convention in Abuja.

A statement by David O. Anyaele, Executive Director, CCD, said, ” It is unacceptable to also note that out of the 21 elective positions of the National Executive Committee of the party, none is set aside for persons with disabilities neither is there any position for PWDs leader in the party hierarchy.

“This is a sad reminder of the pains and agony the party caused the disability community during their 16 years reign at the centre. Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, PDP leaders and the then Presidents of Nigeria denied assent to the National Disability Bill. The then Bill, now an Act Provide for the Full Integration Of Persons With Disabilities Into The Society, Establish The National Commission For Their Education, Health Care, Social, Economic And Civil Rights; And For Related Matters.

“The Act provides in section 30. – (1) Persons with disabilities shall be encouraged to fully participate In politics and public life. (2) Government shall actively promote an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in – (a) the conduct of public affairs without discrimination; (b) non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the *country*; and (c) activities and administration of political parties.”

He said the provision is in line with section 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which provides that States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others.

“They shall undertake to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected among others,” he said.

According to him, the non-inclusion and provision of office of PDP disability leader in the PDP constitution and the deliberate exclusion of persons with disabilities in the elective positions is a pointer that the future of the disability community in Nigeria is deemed in terms of participation in governance if PDP clicks power come 2023.

The statement read, “We are calling on the PDP leadership to take appropriate measure to implement section 30 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. The session provides for the full inclusion of citizens with disabilities in the party elective positions.

“PDP should include the State and National Disability Leadership positions in their party constitution. This is to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in the party structure as obtainable in other parties’ constitution.

“PDP leaders should know that the days of tokenism and charity based approach to dressing disability issues in Nigeria has gone since January 17, 2019 when President Mohammadu Buhari signed the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

“With our project on enhancing access to justice and political participation of young, women and elderly persons with disabilities which is supported by Voice Nigeria, CCD is committed to the engagement of political parties, in particular the People’s Democratic Party to enhance persons with disabilities participation in party politics.”