People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Kogi State have endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Ahmed Ododo and his running mate, Joel Salifu as the next Governor of Kogi State.

The people with disabilities said it became imperative to know fully well that they have enjoyed a high level of inclusion of persons with disabilities under the APC-led government of Governor Yahaya Bello.

In a world press conference held at the office for disability affairs by the Ododo/Oyibo disability vanguard, Ibrahim Daniel Arome noted that “Persons with disabilities in our ways of life don’t just throw support behind people anyhow but we do take our time to access many things.

We are glad to make it known to the entire kogites, Nigerians and the world the reasons why we cannot afford not to support APC and its candidate.”

The PWDs said the structure of APC as a political party from the national, state, and local government and down to the ward level makes constitutional provision for the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD), pointing out that no political party in Nigeria has such constitutional provisions.

“APC-led government under the leadership of former President, Muhammodu Buhari established the Disability Commission in 2018 as the first of its kind since the advent of democracy in Nigeria.

The APC led government in Kogi State under the leadership of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has also demonstrated a high level of inclusion of persons with disabilities.

“The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has changed the agony situation of the disability community in Kogi State into a joyous story.”

The PWDs gave reasons why they must continually give their support to APC and its candidate.

“Domesticating of the disability right law in Kogi State. Establishment of Kogi State Agency for Disability Affairs. Appointment of ten (10) persons with disabilities into the government. Given opportunity for persons with disabilities to the holy land.

“Provision of mobility aids to persons with disabilities. Given over hundred (100) persons with disabilities empowerment of over N2 million naira empowerment each under APPEALS Project. Educational support for some persons with disabilities who gain admission into higher institutions. Creation of Job opportunities for some persons with disabilities with the state government. Empowerment programs for many persons with disabilities”.

The PWDs therefore, called on the community, all Kogites and those who love persons with disabilities to queue behind Ahmed Usman Ododo/Joel Oyibo come November 11th, 2023.

“Having enjoyed the aforementioned great achievements from the government of APC both at the National and state level, we hereby endorse Ahmed Usman Ododo/Joel Oyibo Salifu as the next Governor of Kogi State come November 11, 2023.”

Similarly, Barr. Zacchaeus Dare Michael, Executive Secretary KOSODA, said the endorsement is a result of evaluation and analysis of the outgoing government, said having benefited so much from the APC-led administration, it became obvious to endorse Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo.

He called on all Kogites and the disability community to massively vote for the APC governorship candidate for more inclusion in the next administration.

The Executive Secretary assured of about 50,000 supporters for the APC governorship candidate and urged the PWDs to come out en mass to vote, pointing out that measures have been put in place for them to vote seamlessly.