By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka

Members of the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in Anambra state on Wednesday commended various political parties for promoting the participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral and political processes.

Executive Director of the group, Grace Jerry who stated this in Awka the state capital at a parley with political parties tagged, PWDs Civic and Political Organizing Lab, called for more support, including providing clear policy direction on inclusion and campaign materials in accessible formats to reach them in their different clusters ahead of the November 6 governorship election in the state.

She said, “The code of conduct for political parties should provide clear measures to administratively review party provisions for all PWDs in various parties, including clear policy direction on inclusion.”

“Parties must be deliberate about the production of their campaign materials to ensure they are inaccessible formats to reach different clusters of PWD, including braille forms, audio, sign language/subtitled videos.

“Parties must ensure that venues for meetings and campaign activities are accessible to all PWDs. This oversight function of the political parties can be facilitated through the National Assembly.”

Also, the Chairman of, Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in the state, Ugochukwu Ernest, said they were prepared to participate actively in the governorship election in the state, demanding full inclusion in all electoral processes.

He said time issues of PWDs were swept under the carpet were over, stressing that their matters had moved from charity to rights, occasioned by the signing of the Disability Act at both the federal and state levels.

Ugochukwu said, “This is the first time we’re having this kind of interface with leaders of political parties. Before now, they’ll tell us they don’t have time whenever persons with disabilities are mentioned. But I’m happy things are gradually changing.

“Issues of PWDs can no longer be swept under the carpet. We thank President Buhari for signing the Disability Act. He’s the only President that had the interest and political will to do that because so many Presidents had come and gone without signing the Act.

“Down here, our governor also had the political will to sign Anambra Disability Law. That’s why in the state, issues of PWDs disability have moved from charity to right. We’re no longer begging for charity, but demanding our rights.

In addition, representatives of various political parties in the state who attended the meeting assured the PWDs of all inclusive arrangements in their programs and policies, particularly, in the forthcoming governorship election.