APC PWD Leaders Rally Support for AMBO Ahead of Osun Poll

The leadership of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged voters in Osun State, particularly members of the disability community, to turn out in large numbers for the August 15 governorship election, declaring the poll “Operation Total Victory for AMBO.”

The call was made in a statement issued on Monday by a member of the APC National Working Committee and Secretary of the PWDs Subcommittee of the APC National Campaign Council for Osun, Aare Hon. Tolu Bankole.

Bankole said the party was fully committed to securing victory for its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Oyebamiji Bola (AMBO), and called on party members and supporters across the state to unite behind his candidature.

“As a member of the NWC and secretary of that committee, we are totally committed to the victory of the APC gubernatorial candidate in the Osun election. AMBO is the choice. I enjoin all to rally behind him. Operation Total Victory for AMBO!” he said.

The APC chieftain also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for introducing measures aimed at improving logistics and ensuring greater accessibility for voters, especially persons with disabilities.

He noted that the commission had increased the number of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for the election from 4,427 to 5,130, while backup units had been doubled from 664 to 1,328 to minimise disruptions during accreditation.

According to him, the additional BVAS devices will be deployed to split polling units in areas with large voter populations, including Ife East, Irewole, Egbedore, Ede North and Osogbo, while dedicated technical support teams have been assigned to all registration areas and wards to respond swiftly to any equipment failure.

Bankole further noted that INEC’s mock accreditation exercise showed that voter accreditation could be completed within 30 seconds to two minutes using either fingerprint or facial recognition technology.

He also welcomed measures introduced by the electoral body to promote inclusive participation in the poll, saying they reflect the provisions of Section 54 of the Electoral Act and INEC’s Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities.

According to him, the commission has made available Braille ballot guides for visually impaired voters, magnifying glasses for voters with albinism and low vision, EC40H poster manifests for hearing-impaired voters and priority voting queues for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly.

“INEC has provided assistive devices to make the poll inclusive. This is commendable and we appreciate the Commission. We encourage all eligible PWDs to throng the polling units on August 15. Your vote matters. Do not stay back. This election is about your future, your inclusion and your voice in governance,” Bankole said.

The APC National Working Committee member also cited INEC figures showing that Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters expected to cast their ballots in 3,763 polling units spread across 320 wards in the state’s 30 local government areas.

He noted that permanent voter card collection remains ongoing and welcomed the commission’s assurance that voters whose PVCs were stolen would either receive reprinted cards or be permitted to use downloadable PVCs, adding that the stolen cards could not be used without biometric verification through the BVAS.

Bankole described the APC governorship candidate as one committed to inclusive governance and the welfare of vulnerable groups.

“The APC under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritised inclusion. In Osun, AMBO will consolidate on policies that protect vulnerable groups, create opportunities and ensure that governance works for everyone, including PWDs,” he said.

He concluded by calling for total mobilisation of party members, stakeholders and disability groups across the state ahead of the election.

“This is Operation Total Victory for AMBO. We call on all APC members, stakeholders and especially persons with disabilities to come out in overwhelming numbers. Victory is sure when we stand together. Total solidarity!” he said.

Bankole also urged APC PWD desks and disability clusters across the 30 local government areas to work closely with INEC officials on election day to ensure the proper deployment of assistive devices and facilitate seamless voting for persons with disabilities.