People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ekiti State have congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his re-election; saying that the election was a vote of confidence in the governor’s administration.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Matters, Mr Olugbenga Obanise, the PWDs said the outcome was an affirmation of Oyebanji’s performance in the last 3 and a half years.
Obanise expressed optimism that the next four years would bring more development to Ekiti State as Oyebanji has already displayed competence and commitment to the State’s all-round development.
Meanwhile, the PWDs have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the non-deployment of Form EC40H during the just concluded election.
They equally asked INEC to publish a post-election report on PWD participation to maintain public trust.
“Despite the unavailability of Form EC40H in nearly 90% of polling units across Ekiti State, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) turned out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in Saturday’s governorship election. Form EC40H, a critical INEC document designed to capture the number of PWDs who voted in each polling unit, was not provided as expected contrary to promises made by the National Electoral Commission ahead of the polls”, Obanise alleged.
Obanise, a domestic election observer with the Center for Development and Transformation Initiative, said the form was crucial for data-driven inclusion, as it would have helped INEC and stakeholders track PWDs voter participation and improve accessibility in future elections.
He noted that its absence undermined transparency for a vulnerable voting bloc that had been mobilized in record numbers.
The leader of the PWDs said over 3,000 PWDs were trained across the 16 Local government areas two weeks before the election, while 500 PWD Unit Monitoring Team members were deployed.
“Despite this setback, PWDs refused to be discouraged. Across the 16 LGAs, thousands who had been trained and deployed under the PWD Special Outreach Team showed up at their polling units. To the glory of God Almighty, despite the challenge, our aim was achieved. We voted en masse,” Obanise stated.
