The founder of TAF Africa, Amb. Jake Epelle, has urged stakeholders in today’s local government election in Delta to ensure a peaceful, secure, and all-inclusive election.
Epelle gave the charge today in Asaba at a pre-election news briefing on the preparedness of the non-governmental organisation to monitor the election.
He said the organisation’s mission was primarily to promote a disability-inclusive electoral process where every Nigerian, regardless of disability, could exercise his voting rights freely and fairly at all levels.
He said the organisation engages relevant stakeholders, educates Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and advocates for positive change to enhance the inclusiveness of electoral and political processes.
According to him, today is significant to TAF Africa as it embarks on an election observation mission across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Epelle said the organisation’s five-year projection was to ensure total inclusiveness and full implementation of laws where nobody is stigmatised from voting and being voted for due to disability.
This, he says, TAF Africa seeks to achieve in Nigeria and Africa generally.
The Programme Manager of TAF Africa, Mr Adeolu Kilanko, said the organisation has trained and deployed 75 observers across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
He noted that the observers would be strategically positioned at the polling units to ensure all registered PWDs exercise their rights.
According to him, TAF Africa has also upgraded its election observers’ app to enable swift transmission of information to the election hub in Asaba.
In her remarks, the Senior Communication Manager, TAF Africa, Lynn Agwuocha, urged DSIEC to adhere strictly to assisted voting provisions for PWDs.
She tasked security agencies, civil society organisations and PWDs to play according to the rules, collaborating with election observers to promote peace and secure environments during the election.
“To the PWDs, exercise your rights to vote and participate actively in the electoral process; report any issue faced at the polling units to our observers,” Agwuocha said. (NAN).
