The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday disclosed that 81 persons with disabilities were among ad hoc staff it had recruited for the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State.
Alhaji Ahmed Biambo, Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC office, Lokoja, disclosed on the sideline of a one-day sensitization forum organised by the commission for persons living with disabilities.
Biambo told reporters that the 81 physically challenged persons were recruited to work as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers.
He said that the recruited ad-hoc staff will be deployed to polling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The official, however, said that the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) had ordered that they be posted to non-volatile areas , saying that they will be trained on the use of braille ballot guide among others.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the state chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mr Solomon Yahaya, confirmed the recruitment of his members as ad hoc staff by INEC.
He thanked the commission for the inclusion of physically challenged people in the electoral process, saying that it has given them a sense of belonging.
Yahaya charged members of the association to come out on election day to vote for a candidate of their choice and advised those recruited as ad hoc staff to give a good account of themselves.
