Disability group urges Okpebholo, APC leaders to reserve space for qualified PWDs across 192 wards
A call has gone out to the Edo State Government and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are fairly represented in the planned appointment of 4,800 Special Assistants across the state.
The appeal was made by Jagbadi Richard Ifidon, Vice Chairman of the Owan East Local Government Physically Challenged Association, following the reported approval by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the appointment of 25 Special Assistants in each of the state’s 192 wards.
The proposed appointments, according to the statement, are expected to cover the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State and are being presented as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots participation in governance.
Ifidon welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to bring government closer to communities and allow more citizens to participate directly in governance.
However, he urged the government and party leadership to make disability inclusion part of the selection process rather than leaving the participation of PWDs to chance.
He argued that persons living with disabilities are present in communities across Edo State and should be recognised not only as beneficiaries of government programmes but also as active citizens capable of contributing to governance and community development.
According to him, PWDs include professionals, entrepreneurs, community leaders, political participants, advocates and grassroots stakeholders who can bring valuable experience to government.
He therefore called on ward-level structures handling the selection process to give qualified and capable PWDs genuine consideration.
The appeal comes as political and community structures in the state prepare for the implementation of the Special Assistant appointments, which, if carried out as announced, would create one of the largest grassroots political appointment structures in the state.
With 25 positions allocated to each ward, Ifidon said there is an opportunity to ensure that different sections of society are represented in the process.
He specifically urged the Edo State Government and APC leadership to ensure that the selection guidelines do not unintentionally exclude people living with disabilities.
He also called for clear and transparent criteria that would allow qualified PWDs to compete and participate on an equal basis.
Ifidon said the governor’s stated commitment to taking governance to the grassroots should extend to all categories of citizens.
He referred to the governor’s position that “whatever is from the top, will also go down to the bottom,” arguing that grassroots governance should also reflect the diversity of the people being governed.
The disability advocate maintained that inclusion should not be treated as a favour to persons with disabilities but as part of responsible governance.
He said qualified PWDs should be allowed to contribute based on their competence, experience and capacity to serve their communities.
The appeal also places attention on the wider issue of political and public participation by persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
While Nigeria has legal frameworks aimed at protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and promoting their participation in society, advocates have continued to call for stronger implementation and greater representation in public institutions and decision-making structures.
For Edo State, the proposed ward-level appointments could therefore become an opportunity to demonstrate how disability inclusion can be incorporated into grassroots governance.
Ifidon said the inclusion of PWDs would strengthen the governor’s SHINE Agenda and send a clear message that the administration’s grassroots development plans are intended to cover every segment of society.
He urged political leaders to look beyond disability and focus on the ability, competence and commitment of individual applicants.
According to him, the fact that a person lives with a disability should not automatically become a barrier to political participation or public service.
He further appealed to PWD organisations and their members across the state to remain peaceful, organised and constructive while making their case to government and party leaders.
The statement also emphasised the importance of representation at the ward level, where government policies directly affect residents and where community-level knowledge can be important in identifying local needs.
The proposed 4,800 appointments have consequently generated interest among various groups seeking participation in the grassroots political structure.
For disability advocates, the central concern is that the process should not produce a grassroots structure in which PWDs are again left on the sidelines.
Ifidon called on the authorities responsible for the selection to deliberately identify qualified PWDs across the 192 wards and ensure they have a fair opportunity to be considered.
He said such an approach would demonstrate that inclusion is not merely a slogan but a practical part of governance.
The Owan East disability leader also commended Governor Okpebholo for the initiative and appealed to him to personally ensure that persons with disabilities are included in the final structure.
He maintained that an inclusive government benefits the wider population because it allows people with different experiences and perspectives to contribute to decision-making.
The call is expected to add disability inclusion to the wider discussions surrounding the proposed Special Assistant appointments as the selection process progresses across Edo State.
For Ifidon, the message is straightforward: PWDs are already part of Edo’s communities and should also have a place in the structures created to serve those communities.
He concluded with the disability rights advocacy principle: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
The appeal now places the responsibility on the Edo State Government, APC leadership and ward-level selection structures to demonstrate whether the proposed grassroots appointments will reflect broad participation and inclusion across the state.
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