People with disabilities to get free nomination forms for Kano LG polls

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has promised to give free nomination forms to People with Disabilities (PWDs) interested in contesting the forthcoming local government council elections in the state.

This is coming on the heels of a promise by the PWDs to contest the election coming up in January 2021.

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The Chairman of KANSIEC, Professor Garba Ibrahim Sheka, who confirmed this to Chronicle, also said the forms, pegged at N250,000 for the post of council chairman and N150,000 for councillorship contestants, would be given free to the disabled people.

He, however, said only those duly certified by their political parties as candidates would be given the forms free of charge.

The decision, according to him, is to allow the PWDs to fully participate in the democratic processes of the country.

Chronicle reports that a number of PWDs had indicated their interest in contesting in the state’s LG elections despite perceived challenges.

The Chairman of PWDs in Kano State, Malam Musa Muhammad Shaga said some of their members were vying for positions in the elections.

He said those who indicated interest include Jamilu Ali Haruna, vying for Bunkure Local Government chairmanship slot and Adamu Ibrahim Maikoriya contesting for councillor in Sani Mainagge ward, Gwale Local Government. The two candidates are visually impaired.

Shaga said the last time they had something like this in Kano was when one Kabiru Ado Yakasai, a cripple, contested for Nassarawa Local Government chairman’s position.

He lamented that though many had trusted his capacity to deliver, Yakasai lost at the primary election level because of his disability and was later promised another position as an alternative but the position was also never given to him.

The chairman attributed Yakasai’s inability to win the election to people’s stereotypes about them and the absence of godfathers to stand for them.

“The former Nasarawa State Governor, Umar Tanko Almakura, is our member because he has an ear problem, everyone has seen how he tried to fight for us,” he added.

Shaga then called on the electorate to give PWDs a chance because they had what it takes to provide good governance and contribute towards achieving national development.