From Okwe Obi, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has been implored to implement the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
The charge was given by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the Centre for Ability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE NG), at the unveiling of three reports in Abuja, detailing how PWDs have been excluded from politics.
WFD Country Director, Adebowale Olorunmola, lamented how PWDs have been relegated to the background.
Olorunmola, who acknowledged Nigeria’s giant stride in recognising disability rights, said the country must scale up its enforcement.
He said: “The reality is that implementation has been slow, and political parties – key players in our democracy – have failed to create truly inclusive environments.”
According to the report, the Minimum Standards for Inclusion of PWDs in Political Parties, PAGE Analysis of the Disability Act, and Accessibility Audit Research – reveal significant barriers preventing PWDs from participating fully in Nigeria’s political space.
The other report titled The PAGE Analysis Report revealed that while some states have domesticated and gazetted the Disability Act, many have yet to take action. The absence of a functional Disability Commission in several states, it noted, further hampers enforcement and accountability.
Also, the Accessibility Audit Research Report presented alarming statistics, with only 22.4 % of political party offices having accessible ramps, a mere 10.2 per cent featuring tactile signage, 55.1 per cent of party websites and social media platforms remaining inaccessible to PWDs and 80 % of PWD candidates report facing discrimination during electoral campaigns.
“These numbers are unacceptable in a democracy that claims to uphold equal participation.
“PWDs continue to face systemic barriers that render them invisible in political spaces,” he added.The Minimum Standards Report outlined 14 essential guidelines for political parties to adopt to foster inclusivity.
The report recommended there should be accessibility audits for political party offices, ensuring sign language interpreters at political events, implementing quotas to increase PWD representation in party leadership, and creating accessible digital platforms for engagement.
On his part, Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of CARE NG, Dr. Chike Okogwu, said: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the rights of Persons with Disabilities are respected and protected.”
Okogwu highlighted critical accessibility gaps and called for full implementation of the Disability Act.
He said: “The project’s findings, detailed in three key reports, include the following: Accessibility Audit of Political Party Offices in Nigeria – A comprehensive review of physical and systemic barriers preventing PWDs from active political participation.
“PAGE (Passed, Assented, Gazetted, and Executed) Analysis of the Disability Act – an evaluation of the Act’s enforcement, identifying progress and areas needing improvement.
“Minimum Standards for PWD Participation in Politics – Clear benchmarks designed to ensure equitable representation of PWDs in governance. The NOPP Project serves as a rallying cry for policymakers, political parties, and stakeholders to dismantle barriers and create a truly inclusive democracy for all Nigerians.”