PLWD Will Not Be Disenfranchised In Feb Elections —Osun REC

THE Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, Dr Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola, on Thursday, said People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) will not be disenfranchised in the February 2015 general election.
He disclosed that arrangements had been perfected by the electoral body to ensure that physically challenged persons perform their civic rights in the choice of their preferred candidates in the forthcoming polls.
Speaking at the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voters’ Education and Publicity (SICVEP), Ogunmola allayed Nigerians’ fear about the forthcoming general election, assuring that the commission would do a thorough and acceptable job.
While contending that sensitisation programmes were germane to the success of the forthcoming general election, the REC tasked all registered political parties in the country to assist the commission in educating their members on Electoral Acts, with a view to reduce the incidence of voided votes during election exercise.
According to Ogunmola: “we are seeking the support and cooperation of the people of the state in particular, and Nigerians in general to the task before INEC. This sensitisation programme is a must do by all stakeholders in the coming elections in order to have hitched-free and credible elections.”
“If we sensitise the people at our different levels, lot of people would be able to cast their vote and it will reduce the number of invalid votes in the elections,” he asserted.
Ogunmola stated that INEC had concluded arrangements to hold sensitisation meeting with the physically challenged people, youth groups, women groups, religious leaders, traditional rulers, political parties, civil societies, trade unions, transport unions, male and female traders, among others.
In his remark, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Osun, Mr Sunday Akere assured that the state government would do everything possible to work with the commission, at ensuring a smooth outcome of the forthcoming elections.
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