Why The Exclusion Of ‘Special Persons’ From The Electoral Process Is A Clear Rape On Democracy

By PHC Telegraph

Any electoral system which eliminates the  participation of all who are qualified to take part in the process is a rape on democracy, Jake Epelle a notable campaigner for the rights of persons afflicted with disability has declared.

Jake who spoke at a forum put together to fine tune the current electoral act said that for democracy to strive effectively in the country, everyone including persons living with disability would have to participate in the electoral process.

Jake, an albino who hails from Opobo in Rivers State has relentlessly, painstakingly and unambiguously taken the campaign for the protection of the rights of albinos and others suffering from disability to the four corners of the country.

Consistently, he has argued at every fora that disability does not in any way suggest a lack of ability to perform certain tasks in society.

Called to speak at the event packaged by Yiaga Africa to discuss the way forward, Jake talked about an all inclusive system, about a more humane arrangement that caters for all, and said that the nation’s Electoral Act must take cognizance of overt discriminatory practices that impair voting rights of the disabled.

A physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person’s ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or participate in typical daily activities and interactions is defined as disability.

Jake urged members of the political class, lawmakers, legal minds, electoral strategists and other special interests who were at the roundtable to ensure that the interest of all shades of people are safeguarded by the electoral act.

The inability of Nigeria’s electoral system to cater specially for the gainful participation of disabled persons somehow came to the fore during the discussions.

Participants may have come to discover through Jake’s advocacy that one of the many disabilities suffered by the Electoral Act is its inability to provide for disabled persons on voting day.

The rights campaigner noted that given the way polling booths are structured at this time, provisions to accommodate special persons that are afflicted with disability are not ever made.

Yiaga Africa is a non-profit civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement.

Statistics relating to the exact number of disabled persons does not exist in Nigeria at the moment.

But estimators have projected that estimates for the number of people with disabilities in Nigeria range from under 3 million people to over 25 million.

The World Health Organization’s 2011 World Disability Report says that about 15 percent of Nigeria’s population, or at least 25 million people, have a disability.

It notes that these people face a number of human rights abuses including but not limited to stigmatisation, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to healthcare, housing, and education.

Of late, there have been increasing calls across the countey for the empowerment of people with disabilities.

David Okon and Ihekwoaba Paul who are campaigners for the rights of the disabled persons are urging the authorities to look more favourably at the welfare of physically challenged people.

Speaking against the backdrop of the world disability day, Paul fervently asked Nigeria’s leadership to accord free education to the physically challenged.

Nigerian law forbids discrimination against people with disabilities.

Recall that after several years of emphatic advocacy by groups President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

Earlier, in 2007, Nigeria had ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD).

In 2010, the nation  equally  ratified its Optional Protocol.

In 2011 and 2015, the National Assembly passed the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2009.

Shockingly, President Goodluck Jonathan declined to append his signature to the disability bill.

The bill for the new law was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate joint committee in November 2016.

It was however, not delivered to President Mohammadu Buhari for accent until December 2018.

The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and imposes sanctions including fines and prison sentences on those who contravene it.

It also stipulates a five-year transitional period for modifying public buildings, structures, and automobiles to make them accessible and usable for people with disabilities.

Scientists have  linked disability known as dyslexia to disturbances in the brain according to Science News