Towards Inclusion of Women with Disabilities in Political and Electoral Processes in Oyo State
Report of A 1-Day Assessment Towards Inclusion of Women with Disabilities in Political and Electoral Processes in Oyo State, Nigeria
REPORT OF A 1-DAY ASSESSMENT TOWARDS INCLUSION OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL PROCESSES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA
Introduction
The World Health Organization (2023) defines disability as an umbrella that includes impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. While the World Bank (2023), defines persons with disability as those who face various types of barriers, environmental, physical, or attitudinal, that prevent them from fully engaging in economic, social and political life. No society exists without persons with disability. Their vulnerability stems from an inability to equate with other members of society due to some physical impairments. Persons with disability can be found in all religious, social, political and economic groups. They can be born with a disability or can acquire a disability later in life. Persons with disabilities are part of society in many enriching ways; they are parents, students, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, teachers, and also politicians.
However, they are also among the most excluded communities worldwide. For years, societies around the world have regarded disability as something to be feared, pitied or cured. Negative myths and stigmas about PWDs are common, such as the belief that they are incapable of making positive contributions to society. As a result, persons with disability encounter significant barriers in their efforts to access basic rights, including the right to political participation.
Participation in political and public life by people with disabilities
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 2008, which Nigeria has ratified, stated that Persons with disability can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disability to vote and be voted for. In 2018, Nigeria signed the National Level Discrimination of Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act. The Disability Act aims to protect the rights of PWDs and to ensure their full integration into all aspects of society, including political participation.
The Act encourages political parties to include PWDs in their structures and decision-making bodies and mandates that at least 5% of all appointments in government agencies and political offices are reserved for PWDs. It also emphasizes the need for awareness and sensitization programs to promote understanding and acceptance of PWDs in the political arena. Also, Section 54 subsections 1 and 2 of the Electoral Act 2022 makes it mandatory for the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to make special provisions for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and those with special needs. Regardless of the legislative efforts, the implementation and enforcement of these provisions remain one of the greatest challenges to the mainstreaming of PWDs in the democracy of the country.
Alienating Women with Disabilities from political and electoral processes
Over the years, there has been an outcry over the non-inclusion of persons with disability in Nigeria’s elections especially women with disabilities, many studies have posited that the level of participation of women with disabilities in political party activities in Nigeria is low and that the low level is alienation. Women with disabilities face numerous barriers that prevent them from fully engaging in the electoral processes, these barriers range from political, cultural, economic, institutional, societal as well as legal. Women with disabilities (WWDs) in Oyo State face multiple barriers to political participation, including: Limited accessibility to voting centers and political meetings, lack of awareness about their political rights and electoral processes, Societal stigma and exclusion from decision-making structures, inadequate representation in political parties and governance, and limited policy engagement to address their unique needs.
Assessment on the involvement of women with disabilities in political and electoral processes in Oyo state, Nigeria
The participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in political and electoral processes is essential for a truly inclusive democracy. However, several barriers hinder their active involvement, including financial constraints, societal discrimination, and inaccessible voting infrastructure. Recognizing these challenges, PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation) conducted a one-day multi-stakeholder rapid assessment and consultative session in Oyo State, Nigeria. The session aimed to identify key obstacles and develop strategic recommendations to improve the political inclusion of PWDs.
The consultation engaged representatives from various PWD organizations, ensuring that the voices of persons with disabilities were central to the discussions. Participants included leaders and members of disability advocacy groups and networks promoting the rights of PWDs in political processes. Through meaningful dialogue, stakeholders identified critical issues such as accessibility, voter education, and inclusive policy frameworks, reinforcing the need to strengthen democratic participation for all.
Methods of Assessment
The assessment utilized Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and structured questionnaires to capture the experiences of PWDs in political engagement. Sixteen participants, aged between 27 and 65, represented individuals with physical, visual, hearing, and speech impairments. Participatory learning appraisal tools facilitated group discussions, allowing stakeholders to analyze challenges, their effects, and potential solutions to improve PWDs’ political inclusion.
Key Findings on prevailing challenges/issues
PWDs face multiple barriers limiting their political participation. Financial constraints are a major challenge, making it difficult for them to afford the costs of political registration, campaigns, and electioneering activities.
Many PWDs also lack access to election-related materials, such as voter education resources and political manifestos, which are rarely available in disability-friendly formats like Braille, audio recordings, and sign language interpretation. Public debates and political rallies often exclude accessibility features, further alienating PWDs from political discourse.
Female PWDs face additional discrimination, as gender biases and disability stigma intersect to create a more hostile environment for their political engagement. Many encounter significant gender-based harassment, including verbal abuse, physical intimidation, and even sexual harassment when attempting to participate in political activities. The political landscape is already challenging for women in general, but female PWDs experience even greater marginalization due to the perception that they are less capable of holding leadership positions. This dual discrimination discourages many from contesting political positions or actively engaging in party politics.
Self-stigma and low confidence, resulting from years of systemic discrimination, also hinder PWDs from pursuing leadership roles. Furthermore, political candidates often exploit PWDs as campaign tools during elections but exclude them from decision-making roles afterward. Cultural and religious beliefs further contribute to their exclusion, as deep-seated societal misconceptions about disability influence how PWDs are perceived in political spaces. In many communities, disability is associated with weakness, dependence, or even punishment for past sins, leading to the belief that PWDs are unfit for leadership roles. For instance, albinos are often regarded as offerings to the gods. These attitudes discourage PWDs from aspiring to political positions and the electorate from voting for them.
Furthermore, inaccessible voting centers pose a major challenge, as many polling stations lack essential facilities such as wheelchair ramps, tactile ballots for the visually impaired, and sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired. As a result, many PWDs face difficulties in casting their votes independently, with some even being unable to access polling stations altogether. These infrastructural barriers significantly limit their ability to exercise their democratic rights.
Suggested Solutions
To address these challenges, several solutions were recommended. It was suggested that polling stations should be redesigned to accommodate PWDs, ensuring accessibility features such as wheelchair ramps, tactile ballots, and sign language interpreters. Election materials should be available in accessible formats, and political parties should actively encourage PWDs to run for office. Public awareness campaigns should challenge societal misconceptions and promote the political rights of PWDs. Capacity-building and training programs should equip PWDs with the necessary skills and confidence for political engagement.
Additionally, policy implementation and legal advocacy should focus on engaging with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to push for disability-inclusive electoral policies. Strengthening and enforcing existing laws safeguarding the political rights of PWDs is crucial. Establishing mentorship programs can provide guidance and empowerment, while financial support mechanisms, such as grants and reduced nomination fees, can help PWDs overcome economic barriers to political participation. Leveraging digital platforms for advocacy can further amplify the voices of PWDs and mobilize support for their inclusion.
The findings of the survey highlighted various forms of discrimination faced by PWDs in politics. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of respondents reported verbal abuse, forty percent (40%) faced political intimidation, and eighty-seven percent (87%) were denied party nominations. Additionally, ninety-three percent (93%) cited inaccessible political meeting venues, and forty percent (40%) mentioned negative media portrayals. Financial constraints were unanimously identified as a significant challenge. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of respondents pointed to societal discrimination as a major factor in their marginalization. Limited financial resources, social discrimination, and inaccessible political and electoral processes were identified as the primary barriers to political participation.
All respondents agreed that political parties do not support or encourage PWD participation. However, there was unanimous willingness to support female PWD candidates. To enhance PWD participation, seventy-three percent (73%) of respondents suggested disability-inclusive policies, eighty percent (80%) recommended public awareness initiatives, sixty percent (60%) advocated for accessible polling environments and mentorship programs, and forty-seven percent (47%) emphasized the need for financial support mechanisms.
The rapid assessment and consultative session provided valuable insights into the systemic barriers limiting PWDs’ political engagement. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-sectoral approach involving policy implementation, awareness campaigns, leadership training, and infrastructural improvements. The findings from this assessment will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive advocacy movement to foster political inclusivity for PWDs in Oyo State.
PLAN Foundation remains committed to ensuring that these recommendations translate into concrete policy actions. It is hoped that relevant stakeholders, including INEC, political parties, civil society organizations, and government agencies, will collaborate to create a more equitable political landscape where PWDs can fully exercise their electoral rights and contribute meaningfully to governance.
Ifedayo Osemwigie,
Advocacy, Strategic Communication and Media Officer
ifedayo@planfoundation.org.ng
About Us
PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation), was the first independent support group for people with HIV (PHIV) in Oyo State in Southwestern Nigeria. It is on record that we had the opportunity to participate actively and notably in most of these processes.
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