Early last week, The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) engaged political party State leaders in Ekiti State at the Ekiti State Persons with Disabilities Civic and Political Organizing lab held from 25th to 27th January 2021. With support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the training was organized to strengthen the capacity of persons with disabilities to advance their rights and participate in political processes.
IFA’s Executive Director Grace Jerry, in her welcome address, admonish political parties to be inclusive in their party structures as the participation of persons with disabilities in the political spaces has gone beyond electioneering.
“The civic and political participation of persons with disabilities has generally gone beyond the routine electoral process of registering for elections, voting, and contesting for elections. These shifts bounce on the inclusivity of persons with disabilities at administrative offices as executives at the local, state, and national levels; political parties structures, and policy formulation processes.”
During the training, participants had the opportunity to interface with the Ekiti State political party Chairmen in a panel session organized to draft formidable strategies to include persons with disabilities at party structures. On the panel floor, the Ekiti State Action Democratic Party Chairman obliges persons with disabilities to take action by registering into a political party to gain recognition and be included in their structures.
“IFA is doing a lot to ensure that there is the inclusion of persons with disabilities at the party levels, I feel the ball is in your court, if you want to be recognized by a political party, then you have to make yourself available. We cannot allot positions or give responsibility when you are not committed to the party activities”.
I challenge you here, tell your people to approach my party or any political party and register. This is how to begin. Political slots are very available for you to contest in elections. We are ready to welcome you, we are ready to support you, and we are ready to present you as our candidates. That can only happen when you are registered and committed to the party activities..”
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Hon. Ifedayo Dyaniwura condemned the perceived mentality of persons with disabilities approaching political parties for charity or being used as an object of pity.
“I urge you to resist the mentality of approaching political parties as beggars or be mobilized for sympathy. Don’t think that by coming to political parties, you are coming to beg. You are not a beggar, you are responsible. Be rest assured that you will be treated equally. I will address other parties who are yet to accommodate persons with disabilities to make amendments.”
The Ekiti State Party Chairmen commended IFA for the initiative as they retire to deepen their commitments to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their party structures. Their commitment formulated a communique which they all signed.
