The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has lamented the exclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) in the leadership positions of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded convention of the party in Abuja.

The Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, David O. Anyaele, in a press statement released by the organisation, stated that the non-inclusion and provision of office of PDP disability leader in the PDP constitution and the deliberate exclusion of persons with disabilities in the elective positions is a pointer that the future of the disability community in Nigeria is deemed in terms of participation in governance if PDP clicks to power come 2023.

Mr Anyaele calls on the PDP leadership to take appropriate measures to implement section 30 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 to allow citizens with disabilities in the party elective positions.

“PDP should include the State and National Disability Leadership positions in their party constitution. This ensures the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the party structure as obtainable in other parties’ constitutions.

“PDP leaders should know that the days of tokenism and charity-based approach to dressing disability issues in Nigeria has gone since January 17, 2019, when President Mohammadu Buhari signed the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.”

Source: BONews

---