Northwest Zone: Persons With Disabilities Drum Support For Atiku/Okowa Ticket

“We are supporters of Atiku Abubakar because of his love. He is caring. I have known him for long and we know how he is concerned about people with special needs.

“Last year December we celebrated our world day, and surprisingly, he invited all of us  He joined us in celebrating that day. We had an occasion at Sheraton hotel. We had a lot of discussions and two of my people made presentations before the general public. They spoke on behalf of persons with special needs.

Atiku Abubakar he said has promised to review the present Act on persons with disabilities if elected into office come 2023 presidential election and wil also carry them along.

“There is existing electoral Act, a commission, which is not functioning. Atiku Abubakar made a promise that the Act will be reviewed and will carry each an everyone of us along.

“Take for instance, the issue of structure, no provision for persons with disability. We have some of us here with us today who cannot walk that are being carried on shoulder. Amongst us we have the blind. Sincerely speaking, we believe Atiku Abubakar is all out to address these problems we are facing.

Atiku is promising higher percentage of person with disabilities in governance. Increasing their participation in governance will go a long way in helping to address their plights.

“We made a demand to get involved in governance and at the first instance he promised appointing 5% of people living with disability in his government. We don’t know it could be 10% or even more.

 I know Atiku Abubakar very well, when he makes promises, he normally keeps to it.

Asked on how far they have sensitized their members on the issue of invalid votes, he said they have strategised both at local and state levels where they educate the electorates, (their people) on how to vote. Moreso, INEC he said has made a special provision for them on how they can avoid invalid votes. Sensitization of voters is continuous and still  ongoing. He said.

Senator Gwarzo is also the National Coordinator People with special needs for Atiku / Okowa Campaign.

Speaking, the Deputy Director, Persons with Disabilities for Atiku Abubakar Presidential Council Ephraim Balarabe added that the fora is working assiduously to ensure that their members come out emmass to vote for PDP.

Kaduna state is the mother of all states in the north “If we are able to capture Kaduna, we have captured the north. There is ability in disability. He stated.

The past government he added never saw persons with disabilities as credible people.

“The government have not been able to create avenues for representation for persons with disabilities but we are greatful to the present government of Muhammadu Buhari for the waiver of 5%.

Ephraim noted that the 20% waiver promised by Atiku Abubakar supercedes any other government.

“The awaiting president Atiku Abubakar has promised us 20% waiver.

The gathering was made up of representatives of persons with disabilities in states of the northwest zone.

Coordinators of all northwest zone, from seven states, Kano, Kaduna,  Nasarawa, Katsina, sokoto, Zamfara were present at the event and all contributed towards the success of the forthcoming elections.