Groups happy over PWDs involvement Ondo election, condemns votes buying

People with Disabilities (PWDs) have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its commitment in addressing the recommendations tabled before the commission to give access to PWDs during the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State.

The group made this commendation during a post election press conference, on the Leave No One Behind, Disability Votes Count campaign, organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) lauded the commission for a poll that increased PWDs presence in the poll to 35 per cent across the 3,009 polling units in the state.

Speaking, the CCD and IFA executive directors, Mr. David Anyaele and Mrs Grace Jerry respectively, in their accessibility audit polling units, declared that significant accessibility challenges still exist during the poll.

“These barriers serve as deterrent to further PWDs participation and increase the likelihood that for those PWDs voters who are able to arrive at the polls, inaccessible materials and procedures will undermine their ability to exercise their democratic rights by participating freely and fully in each step of the voting processes.”

The group also lauded the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje for introducing sign language interpreters during INEC chairman’s meeting with stakeholders and the result collation process.

However, a Civil Society group, Situation Room on Sunday, said the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State, recorded incidents of vote buying by political parties participating in the election.

Speaking during a Press Conference in Akure, the Coordinator of the group, Clement Nwakwo, said the group observed that political parties openly paid voters to induce them saying this posses a great threat to free election in the country.