By Giwa SHILE
The Albino Foundation (TAF), on Saturday expressed concern that most of its demands from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the March 9 elections were not met by the electoral umpire.
TBI Africa said Mr Jake Epelle, Founder of TAF, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Epelle, who is also an accredited observer of the European Union (EU) Intervention in Disability Matters described the situation as “appalling.’’
“The situation is appalling. Unfortunately, a lot of work and inputs that we made in the electoral process, especially within the INEC framework are not receiving implementation at all.
“I wouldn’t even say adequate implementation; it is almost near zero implementation because we still didn’t see magnified glasses which INEC promised.
“We didn’t see Braille. Many of the INEC staff still struggle with information about disability,’’ he said.
Epelle, also expressed dissatisfaction over low turnout of persons with disability in the polls.
He also attributed the trend to the crisis in the Feb. 23, elections and some levels of unpreparedness by the commission.
“And those things are showing up now. The enthusiasm we saw in the past presidential election had really died down.
“I think it should be a serious concern to INEC management.
He said that the implication of the low turnout was that a lot of eligible voters would be disenfranchised.
“And I am wondering if those that will be elected by this very minute turnout will really have the true mandate of the people. That’s a huge concern.
“When you don’t have the majority to put you in position, you just go there; you are on your own or by a few people who just push you in there. It’s a major problem.
Epelle, said that his foundation had deployed about 60 observers for the elections, stressing that there was the need to learn from the present experience in order to guard against re-occurrence.
