THESHIELD Garkuwa
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By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
PERSONS with disabilities and special cases have been assured of special attention to enable them smoothly participate in the voting process at the upcoming polls in Sokoto state.
The Sokoto state Commissioner of Police , Muhammad Usaini Gumel gave the assurance on Wednesday during a town hall meeting organised under the auspices of the Inclusive Friends Association as prelude towards the 2023 general elections.
The 1-day meeting tagged: “Get Out the Vote” and conducted at the Dankani Hotel, Sokoto , drew participants with various forms of disabilities which included the visually impaired, deaf, the physically challenged among others.
Gumel said it was within the purview and constitutional mandate and responsibility of the police to ensure smooth , orderly and peaceful participation of all eligible citizens of voting age especially those with special cases as result of disabilities in the state.
” We want to ensure a peaceful participation in the election exercise by citizens particularly the disabled”,Gumel stressed.
The CP however, seized the space to further reiterate the determination of the command at driving to success the entire process without any hindrance .
Gumel also disclosed that the command had proactively engaged its men in the conventional stop and search operations stop to weed off persons wielding illicit weapons during political campaigns in all parts of the state.
According to Gumel ” we are on top of the drive of also checking youth restiveness aimed at dwarfing electoral processes in the state.”
Similarly, while observing that recent campaigns activities in the state were in a way violating the provisions of the laws guiding the electoral process, Gumel cautioned with stern warning to all political parties in the state and supporters to in their interest, remain law abiding as the election dates draw nearer to avoid arrest and prosecution.
He explained that the police command observed that the ongoing campaigns in the state is in full violations of the provisions of the laws guiding the electoral processes.
Speaking , the Program Officer of the Inclusive Friends Association, Miss Tracy Onabis said the town hall meeting was aimed at enlightening persons with disabilities on what to do on elections days .
Onabis further advised the disabled persons to ask for the necessary assistive materials to enable them have an a smooth independent voting process while exercising their franchise.
She said the lnclusive Friends Association was on track pushing and looking forward to the implementation of the provisions of the section 54(2) of the recently amended Electoral Act, 2022 for effective results towards the realisation of its dream.
