By Onwe Wisdom Pan Afric Reporters AWKA, Anambra
As Anambra State heads to the polls tomorrow, The Albino Foundation (TAF Africa) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive democracy, ensuring that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are not left behind in the 2025 governorship election.
Speaking at a pre-election press conference held at the Radisson-Onyx Apartments and Suites, Awka, the Chair of TAF Africa’s PWD Election Hub, Dr. Amina Bala Zakari, said the participation of PWDs is a true test of Nigeria’s democratic inclusiveness.
“The participation of all eligible voters, including persons with disabilities, remains a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive democracy,” Zakari stated. “No democracy can truly thrive when over 30 million Nigerians with disabilities remain on the margins of political life.”
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,802,790 voters are registered to vote in tomorrow’s election, including 3,456 persons with disabilities. However, the absence of disaggregated data on PVC collection among PWDs has raised concerns about effective planning for inclusive participation.
TAF Africa disclosed that under its Persons with Disabilities Election Hub (PWD Election Hub), the organization has deployed 150 trained observers across the three senatorial districts of the state. The team includes 134 stationary polling unit observers and 16 roving media observers, all tasked with monitoring accessibility and inclusion at polling units.
“Our observation mission aims to evaluate INEC’s compliance with Section 54 (1 & 2) of the Electoral Act (2022), which mandates the use of assistive tools and inclusive measures for PWD voters,” said Ambassador Jake Epelle, Founder and CEO of TAF Africa.
Observers will track the availability of Braille ballot guides for blind voters, magnifying glasses for voters with albinism, and Form EC 30E PWD for deaf voters. They will also assess the attitude of polling officials, the accessibility of polling units, and the overall voting experience for persons with disabilities.
To strengthen data-driven monitoring, TAF Africa has enhanced its TAF Disability Hub mobile application for real-time reporting and analysis. The upgraded platform will aggregate data onto a live Election Monitoring Dashboard, accessible to the public via https://electionhub.org.ng/.
“Our technology ensures that every report from observers is verified, analyzed, and displayed in real time to support transparency and timely decision-making,” Epelle explained.
The Foundation also announced a significant step toward improving communication access for deaf voters. In collaboration with INEC, 25 sign language interpreters will be deployed to polling units with the highest number of deaf voters.
“This initiative represents a major step forward in providing adaptive communication and deepening electoral accessibility for the deaf community,” Zakari added. “Insights from this pilot will guide INEC toward adopting sign language interpretation nationwide.”
TAF Africa appealed to all political actors, security agencies, and citizens to maintain peace and tolerance during the election, emphasizing that violence disproportionately affects persons with disabilities.
“Violence and insecurity undermine electoral credibility and create additional barriers for PWDs, many of whom already face mobility and communication challenges,” the statement warned.
Funded by the European Union through the EUSDGN II Programme, TAF Africa’s interventions including the PWD Election Hub, the Third Eye citizen reporting tool, and the deployment of sign language interpreters underscore its mission to build an inclusive and credible electoral process.
“A calm and orderly election day will guarantee that every voter, especially those with disabilities, can safely and freely exercise their right to vote,” Epelle urged.
TAF Africa’s pre-election statement concludes with a call for collective responsibility in ensuring that the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election becomes a benchmark for accessibility, inclusion, and peace.
