Brave Dickson
Ahead of the forthcoming primaries of political parties across the country, the community of persons living with disabilities has demanded free nomination forms from the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.
The immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Physically Challenged Matters, Itekena Altraide told our correspondent that the demand was necessary because of the negative body language of the two major political parties against PWDs.
Altraide specifically frowned at APC who through President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 but had refused to make nomination forms free for PWDs.
The Act prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1, 000, 000 for corporate bodies and N100,000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation.
He said for APC to declare free nomination forms for women and left PWDs behind showed obvious discrimination against PWDs.
“We do not deserve to be treated this way by PDP and APC who ought to have made nomination forms free for us before any political party.
“We have in many ways contributed positively to the political success of APC and PDP and we have the mental competence to hold elective offices.
“We will continue to demand for free nomination forms from PDP and APC until they give us, “he said.
