Ekiti: People with disabilities couldn’t access many polling units – Group

The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities has complained that a large number of polling units were not accessible to people with disabilities.

The group said this in a preliminary statement on the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election signed by its chairman, David Anyaele.

It also complained that the Independent National Electoral Commission displayed a minimal commitment to the implementation of the Electoral Act during the election.

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Part of the statement read, “EVAPWD is impressed to observe that marginalised populations – the aged, nursing mothers and pregnant women and persons with disabilities were offered priority voting in most of the polling units observed. We commend Polling Officials for their efforts in this regard.

“EVAPWD observers observed that the promised Braille Ballot Paper by INEC for easy access for the Blind voters was scarcely available as it was only observed at PU 003, Ward 10, Afao/Kajola, and PU 001, Ward 11, Odese in Ikere Local Government Area.

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“EVAPWD Observers did not see any magnifying glasses at the Polling Units observed. When Adhoc Staff were asked about this material, they told EVAPWD Observers that it is not available.

EVAPWD also observed that Information, Education, and Communication materials such as Election Day instructions and guidelines to assist the deaf or persons with hearing impairment in the understanding of the voting process were not available in all the polling units visited.

“EVAPWD observers report shows that large numbers of the polling units were not accessible to physically challenged persons. These polling units were sited in difficult places such as buildings without ramps/handrails, across gutters, staircases, etc.

“The worse we observed was locating of a Polling Unit in a basement at PU 004, Ward 002, near Odo-Ado market, Ado-Ekiti LGA with no provisional elevators nor ramp to assist physically challenged voters.

“EVAPWD observed massive vote-buying and selling, in particular PU 001, Ward 10, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, PU 002, Ward 10, Odo-Oye / Ayedun 1, Gbonyi LGA, and PU 039, Ward 11, Ado-Ekiti LGA.

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“With the above-stated observations, the Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities, a program of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities is pleased that INEC granted PWDs priority voting during the 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election.

“Provision of assistive devices (Braille Ballots, Magnifying Glasses, and location of Polling Units inaccessible environments) were not observed nor sighted by our observers.

“By this singular act, INEC has displayed a minimal commitment to the implementation of the Electoral Act, INEC Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process, and the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

“We urge INEC to address these issues as observed by EVA4PWD observers, especially as we move towards the Osun State Governorship election next month.”