The Independent National Electoral Commission reported yesterday that disadvantaged groups, such as PWDs, made up more than 70% of those who registered during the recently finished Continuous Voters Registration operation for the 2023 election.
Therefore, it urged political parties to take the initiative in promoting PWDs’ full involvement in their processes, procedures, and activities since they serve as major forces behind Nigeria’s democracy and system of government.
Prof. Kunle Ajayi, National Commissioner for INEC and Chairman of the Commission’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, made these remarks at the National PWD Civic and Political Lab in Abuja.
Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, a human rights organization, planned the event with assistance from Participate Today and the National Endowment for Democracy.
Ajayi referenced data from the National Population Commission, NPC, which showed that at least 19 million Nigerians lived with disabilities in his keynote talk, “The role of political parties in engendering inclusive Democratic government in Nigeria.”
According to our own records, many PWDs are registered voters who may be influenced in favor of any party that values inclusivity. This suggests that PWDs have a significant electoral advantage. Recent inclusion figures from INEC regarding the recently finished Continuous Voters Registration program show that over 70% of the registrants were from vulnerable categories, including women, youths, PWDs, and IDPs. They cannot simply be disregarded in the electoral process given this high percentage.
