A non-governmental organisation, TAF Africa, championing disability inclusion, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recruit and deploy sign language interpreters as ad hoc workers during the 2027 general elections.

The Programme of Officer of the organisation, Andrew Adaji, made the call during a sensitisation programme organised for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Tuesday in Lafia.

The programme was titled “Able-to-Vote.”

Mr Adaji said that the move would ensure inclusive elections, adding that it would also curb communication barriers usually faced by hearing impaired persons at the polling units.

He said that as a disability-focused organisation, TAF Africa had been working to promote the participation of PWDs in the electoral process across several states ahead of the general elections.

“We are here to sensitise PWDs to their right to vote. The 2027 general election is by the corner, so we are moving around communities and states interfacing with PWDs on the need to participate actively in the elections.

“This is why we are calling on INEC to recruit sign language interpreters and deploy them to various polling units during the elections,” he said.

He, however, commended INEC for deploying sign language interpreters during off-cycle elections in Ekiti, Osun and Anambra states.

He urged the electoral umpire to do the same during the forthcoming general elections.

Mr Adaji also said that TAF Africa had engaged INEC on the general accessibility, including the provision of magnifying glasses for voters with low vision and ensure physical accessibility of the polling units.

On the sensitisation programme, he said that the activity was designed to harvest challenges faced by PWDs during elections, with a view of presenting them to INEC for further action.

He also called on the citizens to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act which guarantees priority voting for PWDs, the elderly and pregnant women.

“The Electoral Act specifies that PWDs, the elderly and pregnant women should be given priority during voting. INEC officials are aware of this development, but as citizens, we also need to comply.

“There should be a special line for persons with disabilities at the polling units; it is part of the law and we need to respect that,” Mr Adaji said.

Speaking, a former Secretary of the Joint Association of Persons With Disabilities in the state, Osakede Solomon, thanked TAF Africa for the awareness, adding that the knowledge gained would make voting seamless for its members during elections.

(NAN).