Anambra Election: INEC provides magnifying goggle for albinos

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has provided magnifying goggles for the people living with albinism to enable them recognise political parties’ logo at different polling units in the upcoming November 18 Anambra governorship elections.

The Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this while receiving EU Observer Mission to Nigeria led by Mr Santiago Ayxela on Thursday in Abuja.

“We are doing a lot about inclusiveness for women, youths and people living with disabilities in terms of access to the polling units and participation in the elections.

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“One of the things we have done in this regard in forthcoming Anambra elections is provision of magnifying glasses in polling units to enable people living with albinism to see logo of parties and make their choices,” he said.

Yakubu, according to Punch, recalled that it was exactly two years ago since the EU sent delegations to observe the 2015 elections in Nigeria, adding that the current mission was crucial as it came at a time when the commission was preparing for the 2019 general elections.

Yakubu, who reaffirmed that the commission had fixed Feb.16, 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly elections, and March 2 for Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, said the commission is already in election mood as the date slated for the presidential elections is only 484 days away.

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He noted that the 2015 general elections received global recognition for its credibility and for meeting international best practice, assuring that the commission committed to ensuring that the 2019 elections would be better than 2015.

The chairman said INEC had so far conducted elections in 172 constituencies since the 2015 elections and that eight of the 30 recommendations of the EU team in 2015 had been implemented.

He said that the remaining 22 recommendations were at various stages at the relevant agencies, including the National Assembly, responsible for the implementation.