INEC Applauded Over Improvement In Conduct Of Election

Miss Jerry noted the considerable improvement in the provision of Braille Ballot Guide (BBG) as compared with the Edo Elections, earlier conducted on the 19th of September, 2020, and having 38% deployment of BBG while Ondo elections conducted on the 10th of October, 2020 improved to 59%.

She lamented that the absence of flat surface ground voting, Form EC30E PWD (Election Day written instruction for the deaf) as well as an insufficient or outright absence of magnifying glasses has being a major set-back for PWDs in performing their electoral rights.

“It was observed from the PUs visited that, the BBG was deployed to some of the PUs to enable voters who were visually impaired cast their votes for candidates of their choice independently.

“Some other PUs visited however did not have the BBG. The Yiaga Africa report captured that, the Braille ballot guide was present in 59% of sampled PU in Ondo as against the poorly deployed 38% of BBG in the Edo Election. An explanation provided by some Presiding Officers however proved that INEC had used the Data for inclusion submitted to them by the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in the distribution of the BBG and other assistive materials.

“INEC deserves commendation for the improvements recorded thus far in areas such as the provision of braille for voters with visual impairment, training of polling officials in managing the electoral process especially engaging PWDs as part of the ad-hoc staff. PU28/06/04/011 Oke-Ijebo had PWDs as part of their ad-hoc staff this is a good initiative of inclusion in the area of employment”.