When Muhammad Alhaji, a resident of Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara state cast his vote in the 2019 general elections, he had to rely on one of his relatives who guided him in choosing candidates/parties of his choice. Though blind, Alhaji exercised his right as enshrined in the constitution, but he still was unsatisfied and suspected that he might have been cheated.
ReportsWhen Muhammad Alhaji, a resident of Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara state cast his vote in the 2019 general elections, he had to rely on one of his relatives who guided him in choosing candidates/parties of his choice.
Alhaji added that “We are dissatisfied with INEC’s policy for people with disabilities. We have seen a lot of promises on paper; but there was nothing in actuality.” These people who also have the right to vote and be voted for, face challenges on election day as the electoral empire does not make provision for assistive technologies that could make voting easier.The electoral body had recognized the needs of the blind and the challenges they face on election days but had failed to take the appropriate steps to meet these needs.
In May 2018, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, promised that the commission would produce ballot papers in braille to allow visually impaired persons above the age of 18 to vote unaided in the 2019 general elections. As the atmosphere is already tense for the campaign and political rallies ahead of the much anticipated 2023 general elections, The Informant247 observed that the visually impaired persons and the blinds in that area were aware of what is going on around them. Although they cannot see they can sense what is happening in their community at every moment.
When The Informant247 approached a group of physically impaired persons for an interview, at first they were reluctant to answer questions. They were just 8 people sitting together. They are all females and their children were rightly seated beside them. One of them who understands Yoruba helped the correspondent to relay the message to others. But despite that, they were speaking in Hausa language and were so loud in their discussion.
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