By Julian Osamoto
The All-rights Foundation Africa (TAF Africa) says Nigeria’s democracy has continued to exclude millions of persons with disabilities from political leadership, despite laws guaranteeing equal participation.
The organisation raised the concern in Abuja, during the launch of its Able2Run Campaign, an initiative designed to increase the political participation and electability of persons with disabilities across the country.
Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, said the exclusion of persons with disabilities from governance weakens Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to him, Nigeria cannot claim to practise inclusive democracy while persons with disabilities remain largely absent from elective offices and decision-making spaces.
Epelle said the campaign seeks to dismantle stereotypes that portray disability as inability and encourage more persons with disabilities to contest elections and occupy leadership positions.
He noted that Nigeria’s estimated 34 million persons with disabilities form a significant voting population capable of shaping electoral outcomes if properly mobilised.
Less Than 0.1 Per Cent Representation
Also speaking, Senior Programme Manager at The Kukah Centre, Esrom Ajanya, revealed that only four persons with disabilities occupied elective political offices in Nigeria between 2019 and 2025.
Ajanya cited findings from TAF Africa’s national political participation study, which showed that the figure represents less than 0.1 per cent of elective positions nationwide.
The report also found that no woman with disability held elective office within the period under review.
It further discloses that more than 99 per cent of political positions occupied by persons with disabilities were appointive roles, mostly disability-related advisory appointments.
The organisation described the trend as tokenistic inclusion rather than genuine political representation.
Barriers Still Blocking Participation
“TAF Africa identified inaccessible polling units, discrimination, poverty, poor funding, and exclusion within political parties as major barriers preventing persons with disabilities from participating fully in politics”.
The group also criticised weak disability data collection within the voter register, noting that records from the Independent National Electoral Commission show fewer than 100,000 registered voters captured with disability data.
According to the organisation, the figure falls far below Nigeria’s actual population of persons with disabilities.
Mentorship Programme for Aspiring Politicians
To close the gap, TAF Africa announced a free mentorship and coaching programme for aspiring politicians with disabilities.
The initiative, supported by the European Union under the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme, will establish virtual political incubation hubs across the six geopolitical zones.
The programme aims to mentor at least 180 aspiring politicians with disabilities in leadership, campaign financing, voter mobilisation, media engagement, and inclusive governance.
TAF Africa also called on political parties to adopt affirmative action policies, reduce nomination costs, and make party structures accessible to persons with disabilities.
The organisation urged federal and state governments to fully implement the Disability Act 2018 and strengthen support for disability-inclusive governance in Nigeria.
