During the just concluded elections, wards in the FCT and other states witnessed a large number of the aged and persons with Disabilities, PWDs come out to cast their votes and face the challenges of the day, one of which was waiting for hours before INEC officials arrived.
In Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Luka Chuwang an elderly person and living with disability, waited for over 5 hours to cast his vote.
He shared how he feels to be the first person to vote at his polling unit.
Mr. Chuwang said he made up his mind to be part or the electoral process despite the odds.
At the CBN Quarters, Garki 2, Abuja, there were a couple of challenges from late arrival of INEC officials to the lack of voting materials and at some point the voters became agitated.
An elderly woman, who said she was 100 years old, also came to exercise her franchise.
Precious Omekwe, an independent observer from Christian Council of Nigeria narrates what she observed about their experiences.
In the midst of this was a blind lady who came to cast her vote and had to be assisted by her family member who came with her.
After the wait for hours, she eventually was attended to first on the queue before others.
In the build-up to the 2023 elections, INEC had been charged with the responsibility to ensure accessibility of polling booths and election materials to over 30 million PWDs in Nigeria.
And also to ensure that the voting rights of every citizen of Nigeria is upheld and this include the aged, pregnant women or the sick.
Reporting by Ehizogie Ohiani and Mike Yawe; Editing by Tina Oyinsan