Dedicate Polling Units For PWDs – GEW

By Kayode Oyedare

A Civil Society Organization, Gender and Election Watch, GEW wants the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to provide dedicated polling units for Persons with disabilities PWDs in the future elections in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Organization Brenda Anugwom made the call while briefing News men in Abuja on the CSO’s observations in the last Saturday off cycle Governorship election in Kogi state

She said low turn out of PWD’s could be attributed to factors such as the location of polling units, lack of ramps and the absence of dedicated assistants at the voting centers.

The Chief Executive Officer of GEW commended large turn out of women at some locations including Lokogoma in Lokoja and priority voting for women and the elderly .

Brenda Anugwom emphasized the need for INEC to hand over any official or ad-hoc Staff involved in electoral malpractices to security agencies as a deterrent in accordance with the amended Electoral Act 2022.

The Leader of the Gender and Election Watch noted the the election was relatively peaceful compared to past election but advised security agencies to do more in carrying out out their duties professionally in the future polls.

Edited By Grace Namiji