A Coalition of Persons with Disabilities wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),to remove what it calls barriers preventing full participation in the electoral process.
The group made this demand during a peace walk in Port Harcourt.
This is even as the central electoral body has consistently insisted that no eligible voter will be prevented from performing their civic duty.
The registration of new Voters ahead of next year’s General elections is currently ongoing across Nigeria.
Though tagged “continous”, it is actually a periodic exercise organised by the Independent National Electoral Commisssion, INEC
The PWDs under the body, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities have undertaken a peaceful protest from the G.R.A. axis of the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway to the INEC headquarters in the Rivers state capital.
Accompanied by representatives of a group called the Stakeholders Democracy Movement, SDN, they want greater inclusion in the process.
A catalogue of demands is presented to the electoral umpire.
The Administrative Secretary at the Rivers INEC office, Angela Ebodaghe, assured the group that several of its concerns are already being addressed.
The voter registration is still ongoing.
The timetable of the 2027 election is yet to be released.
Expectations are that all – both voters and the electoral officials, will be able to reach a common ground, all with the goal of deepening Nigeria’s democracy through inclusive participation.
(Editor:Nkoli Omhoudu)
