November 11: INEC Approves 2,238 Polling Units For Persons With Disabilities

No fewer than 2,238 polling units have been provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states ahead of the November 11 governorship polls.

This was disclosed by the INEC national commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Kunle Ajayi, in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, on Tuesday.

While addressing pressmen, Ajayi explained that the electoral umpire has made braille ballots available for voters with visual impairment, magnifying glasses for people with albinism and enlarged posters for voters with hearing impairments.

According to him, the fresh move was further to integrate people with disabilities into the electoral system and not disenfranchise them because of their condition.

Ajayi noted, “We have taken additional steps to integrate into the voting procedure a process that prioritises voting for PWDs and vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

“All post-2023 general election review engagements at the state level, in Abuja and Lagos were successful.

“Several suggestions on how we can improve elections were gathered, and the implementation of some has already commenced.

“Part of the recommendations is what we are implementing today: having a comprehensive engagement with the media and increasing voter education and sensitisation of the electorate ahead of the election.

“We look forward to implementing some of these suggestions, which require administrative action, in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi state.”