Anambra 2025: TAF Africa Decries Electoral Barriers Hindering Full Participation of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria

As Anambra State edges closer to another governorship election, an alarm has been raised over the persistent neglect and systemic marginalisation of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria’s electoral processes. The warning came from TAF Africa, a prominent Civil Society Organisation advocating for inclusive democratic participation, during a high-profile voter education campaign held in Nnewi.

Over 400 participants, most of them members of the PWD community, gathered to engage with the message of inclusion, equality, and electoral justice. The event was not only an educational outreach but also a bold platform for spotlighting the structural and social hurdles that continue to suppress the voice of millions of Nigerians living with disabilities.

A major thrust of TAF Africa’s position centered on the glaring absence of a dedicated and effective policy framework to guarantee active electoral participation of PWDs. This gap, the organisation stressed, has resulted in widespread disenfranchisement and voter apathy within the community. The issue, they maintained, is not just about inaccessible polling units or insufficient electoral materials; it speaks to a deeper, systemic failure that undermines the rights of an entire demographic.

TAF Africa did not mince words when condemning the discrimination, humiliation, and physical abuse reportedly faced by PWDs during past elections. According to testimonies gathered at the campaign, many PWDs have encountered degrading treatment at polling stations—ranging from being turned away due to inaccessible infrastructure, to being mocked or harassed by electoral officials and even fellow voters. These experiences, the group emphasised, have inflicted psychological scars and diminished their confidence in the electoral process.

Kilanko Adeolu, Programme Manager for TAF Africa, used the event to voice deep concern about the lack of robust voter education targeted at PWDs. He argued that ignorance, rather than disinterest, accounts for much of the voter apathy observed among the disabled population. Adeolu explained that many PWDs are not even aware of their electoral rights, let alone the mechanisms available to protect and empower them during elections.

He pointed out that while Nigeria’s legislative framework—the amended 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and various national disability laws—contains provisions guaranteeing the political participation of all citizens, these laws often fail in implementation. Adeolu acknowledged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced some measures aimed at increasing accessibility, such as priority voting and disability-friendly voter materials. However, he stressed that these efforts remain insufficient without deliberate and sustained actions to enforce inclusion.

Calls for reform were a significant part of the event’s agenda. Adeolu presented a series of targeted recommendations aimed at dismantling the barriers that keep PWDs at the fringes of Nigeria’s democratic process. He urged INEC to make PWDs a key demographic in voter registration drives, develop and deploy assistive voting technologies, and ensure physical access to polling stations. Furthermore, he called for intensified sensitisation campaigns and the provision of transport and other incentives to facilitate PWD participation.

A recurring theme was the importance of security. Many PWDs have expressed fear of violence during elections, a fear often heightened by their vulnerability and the absence of specific protective measures. Adeolu urged Nigeria’s security agencies to recognise this threat and offer tailored protections to encourage safe and confident participation.

The campaign event was more than an academic exercise; it served as a wake-up call to all stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral system. From civil society groups and electoral bodies to legislators and security agencies, the message was clear: democratic inclusion cannot be selective. A system that excludes millions on the basis of physical or sensory limitations is a system in crisis.

TAF Africa’s initiative reflects a growing demand for equity and justice within Nigeria’s democracy. It reveals a segment of society long ignored, now rising with a unified voice to demand their right to participate, to be heard, and to influence the decisions that shape their lives.

As the 2025 Anambra governorship election draws nearer, the call to action has never been louder. Whether the nation will listen and respond, remains to be seen.