By Leonard Okachie
Umuahia, Sept. 7, 2026 (NAN) Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Abia, on Monday lauded TAF Africa Foundation, for a voter education and sensitisation programme held for them.
They said the training was timely and had empowered them with knowledge of their electoral rights and participation.
They said it had addressed years of exclusion and political apathy ahead of 2027 elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, which took place in Umuahia, drew PWDs from different disability clusters across Umuahia North Local Government Area.
Mr Wisdom Okechukwu, State Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, said the sensitisation informed PWDs of their rights.
He noted they now knew how to access polling units and exercise their right to vote and be voted for.
“We are very much ready because today’s programme is the final of the three-day sensitisation,” he said.
He added that they started from Abia North to South and concluded in Abia Central.
Ms Chioma Ekoro, Youth Leader for PWDs in Abia and a visually-impaired lady, described the training as an eye-opener.
She said it motivated young PWDs to participate again and taught them about assisted voting rights.
“I have the right to go there with a trusted friend,” she said.
She added that the knowledge would help her advocate for more PWDs in her leadership position.
Mr Abraham Alugwe, a person with spinal cord injury, said PWDs were often looked down on at polling units before.
He said the sensitisation opened their eyes to demand their rights and priority attention from INEC officials.
Mr George Anwayi, Programme Manager at TAF Africa, said the campaign targeted grassroots communities.
He explained that many rural PWDs were unaware of provisions in the Electoral Act for their participation.
He was that the programme was held in six selected communities across the three senatorial zones in the state.
Anwayi said the team educated participants on assistive devices, priority voting, and assisted voting.
He noted that participants expressed determination to vote and rejected vote-selling after the training.
NAN reports that TAF Africa, which promotes inclusion and empowerment of PWDs, has held similar event in Delta, ahead of 2027 general elections.
(NAN)
