The leadership of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Enugu State, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), wishes to express its deep disappointment, concern, and dissatisfaction over the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the recently released list of candidates for elective positions, particularly the councillorship positions across the state.
As the State Leader of Persons With Disabilities in APC Enugu State and Chairman of the Enugu State Persons With Disabilities Commission, I had formally written to the party leadership requesting consideration and inclusion of qualified persons with disabilities in the ongoing political selection process. While the disability community is entitled by law and equity to substantial representation, we modestly pursued only two councillorship slots for qualified members of our community in Enugu East and Igbo-Eze North Local Government Areas.
Regrettably, both aspirants were denied the opportunity by:
1. *Beloved Dan* the *Chairman of Enugu East Local Government
2. *Igboeze North* Local Government stake holders.
Sadly, the final list released by the party contains no persons with disabilities among the candidates. I'm listing these names so we can see those that are enemies of our great democratic party.
However, We requested for 17 councillorship out of the 260 wards in 17 Local Government Areas, but due to *Unfairness , Lack of Compassion and Excessive Self-intreset* not even two Slots was given to us.
This development raises serious concerns about the continued discrimination and exclusion of persons with disabilities from active political participation.
The Enugu State Persons With Disabilities Commission was established and inaugurated by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, to promote inclusion, equal opportunities, and the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The principles and provisions of this law must be respected and implemented by all stakeholders, including political parties.
Furthermore, the APC constitution and structure recognize Persons With Disabilities as a critical stakeholder group, with representation from the state level down to the ward level. This recognition is not merely ceremonial; it is intended to ensure meaningful participation and access to leadership opportunities within the party and government.
The complete exclusion of persons with disabilities from the current councillorship nominations sends a wrong signal to our community and undermines the ideals of fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunity. It suggests that persons with disabilities are still being viewed as incapable of serving in elective offices, a notion we strongly reject.
The leadership of Persons With Disabilities APC Enugu State and the Enugu State Persons With Disabilities Commission hereby condemn this unfortunate development and call on the party leadership to urgently review its position. We demand a political environment where persons with disabilities are treated fairly and given the opportunity to contribute their quota to governance and development.
We wish to state clearly that we shall continue to advocate for the rights, dignity, and political inclusion of persons with disabilities. We will resist every form of discrimination, exclusion, or intimidation directed against our people and will continue to pursue all lawful and democratic means to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are respected.
Persons with disabilities are capable, qualified, and deserving of representation. Inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right.
Signed
Eze Jude Chuka
State Leader, Persons With Disabilities, APC Enugu State
Chairman, Enugu State Persons With Disabilities Commission
