Persons with disabilities in Oyo State have vowed to support only the political party and candidates that recognise them in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.
They made this declaration during a rally to create awareness among persons with disabilities towards the preparation for the forthcoming general elections.
DAILY POST reports that they made these declarations during the rally tagged “Effective mobilisation strategies and participation of persons living with disabilities at the grassroot for the 2023 general elections” held in some parts of Ibadan.
The rally was organised by the Coalition of like-minded people with disabilities, Oyo State chapter.
President of the coalition, Mr. Chukwuma Ibeh, who spoke during the rally, lamented that persons with disabilities have been neglected by political office holders over the years, despite the fact that about 2.5 million people live with disabilities in the State.
He, however, said that only politicians that recognised them would have their support during the next elections in the State.
Ibeh noted that politicians in the State had over the years abandoned them.
He said, “We organised this rally to let members of the public, especially people in Oyo State know the existence of persons with disabilities. They look at the population of persons with disabilities with a minor figure.
“But, we want the politicians to know that we are many. We have the power to vote in and vote out someone. We have a lot of roles to play in the 2023 elections. We have gone to obtain our PVCs.
“So, any political party or candidate that recognises persons with disabilities will be voted for in 2023.
“When we have a population of 2.5 million people, it is not a small population. We are ready to support a political party or candidate that recognises us in 2023.”
