Ahead of November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said albinos in the state would be provided with vision magnifiers.
Speaking while playing host to a delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) in his office in Abuja, Professor Yakubu said it would enable the albino electorate to properly identify the logos of political parties in the ballot paper while casting their votes.
The INEC chairman further declared that making the facility available to the albinos at the polling units in the state would fast-track the voting process.
He said: ‘’The Anambra election is billed for November 18, 2017. One of the things we introduced in the forthcoming Anambra election based on representation from the association of those living with albinism is the provision of magnifying glasses at the polling units to enable them see the logos of the parties and make their choices.
“We have made provision for magnifying glasses in all the polling units in Anambra on November 18.”
Yakubu further told the EU team that his Commission had implemented eight of the recommendations of the EU-EOM in the post-2015 elections, but noted that 22 of the recommendations were beyond the electoral body.
He listed biometric identification of voters, simultaneous accreditation and voting by electorate among recommendations implemented by his Commission.
The leader of the delegation, Santiago Fisas, said they were at the INEC headquarters to discuss ways of improving Nigeria’s electoral system.
The leader of the delegation, Santiago Fisas, said they were at the INEC headquarters to discuss ways of improving Nigeria’s electoral system.
The team also met with the national working committee of the All Progressives Congress, led by Odigie Oyegun. The APC National Chairman in his remarks welcomed the delegation and expressed the readiness of the Party to exchange views on the 2015 EU EOM to Nigeria report and also disclosed preparations in the lead up to the 2019 general elections.
“We use this opportunity to renew our acquaintance. A lot of very interesting things are happening in your part of the world and of course in ours. It is a good opportunity to touch base again and exchange ideas and views.”
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