Don’t sell your votes, INEC tells physically challenged persons

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admonished Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) not to sell their votes in cash or collect any kind of gratification during the forthcoming general elections.

Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, gave the admonition on Tuesday in Ibadan, during the mobilisation workshop organised for leaders of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in the 33 local government areas of the state.

Agboke decried a situation whereby some politicians may want to take advantage of their disabilities to woo them with money in exchange for their votes.

He urged them to use their PVCs to exercise their civic responsibility and vote for candidates of their choice in the elections.

Agboke said doing so would help promote democratic growth and give way for credible candidates to win elections.

The REC said the mobilisation and sensitisation campaigns were designed to extract and strengthen the tenacity of persons with disabilities in Oyo State to participate fully in the electoral process and vote in the scheduled elections.

He further stated that the commission had made some giant strides aimed at attracting persons with disabilities to exercise their franchise.

Agboke charged PWDs to go out on election days to vote candidates of their choice and should not feel inferior to other persons in the society.

He urged leaders of JONAPWD to intensify the tempo of their outreach and engagement with government at all levels.

“There is dire need to interact with political parties and extract or obtain policy direction and programme for PWDs if their candidates are elected into both executive and legislative arms of government.

“Your organisation must come together and constitute a formidable pressure group in order to improve on your present status,” Agboke said.

Earlier, Mr Jide Oyesola, the President of JONAPWD in Oyo State, had commended INEC for pledging that his members would fully participate in the forthcoming elections.

Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 300 JONAPWD members across the 33 local government areas of the state took part in the workshop.