People with disabilities in Niger State have commended the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, on the use of ‘BVAS Machine’ in the ongoing General election across Nigeria.
The Chief of Leprosy Colony in Niger State, Mallam Bello Umar, said the use of the BVS has really given them the opportunity to cast their votes for the first time.
He also applauded INEC for providing them with a polling unit. “We are grateful to Allah and INEC for given us polling unit closer to us, years back we were not carried along either during the registration or voting process, ” Mallam Umar stated.
He continued,”In the previous elections there was no provision in the ballot for the lepers to vote, but in this new system, since you don’t have finger to be captured by the machine, your face will be scan with a camera for authentication then you go and cast your vote with your guide.”
Mallam Umar, who lamented the neglect of not considering them worthy to vote in the previous elections says, “in the past elections, some members of the Leprosy Colony community, who were interested in politics had to go to nearby communities for voter registration to enable them perticipate in elections.”
Mallam Umar said that with over 500 people in the leprosy community, there’s no meaningful development.
He urged government to always consider people with special needs in there supsequent development plans.
“Politicians don’t even come here for campaigns ,they believed we don’t have any political value since we can’t vote and there was no provisions for us to vote in the ballot papers,” he said.
However, some members of the community greatly affected with the leprosy disease, who could not make it to the polling unit equally commended the electoral commission for giving them the opportunity to be enfranchise.
Similarly, the head of people affected with with blindness, Mallam Rabiu Makafi in Niger State, commended the new arrangement by INEC in making sure people with special needs are carried along.
Shakirat Sadiq
