Toyyibat Qasim
The group alleges that some persons with disabilities are being offered cash, foodstuffs and other benefits in exchange for their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The South West Action Group, a support group for the Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has accused agents of the All Progressives Congress of allegedly targeting persons with disabilities in Lagos State with financial inducements and intimidation to secure their political support ahead of the 2027 general elections
The group alleged that some persons with disabilities were being offered money, foodstuffs and other material benefits in exchange for their Permanent Voter Cards, with promises that the cards would be returned after they had pledged their support for the ruling party.
It further claimed that some beneficiaries were being denied access to welfare packages and other forms of assistance because they refused to surrender their PVCs or commit to voting for the APC.
The allegations were contained in a statement jointly signed by SWAG’s Coordinator, Comrade Wale Balogun, and Publicity Secretary, Otunba Sanni.
According to the group, reports from Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Mushin and other parts of the state indicated that persons with disabilities were being targeted through financial inducements and food distribution schemes allegedly designed to influence their voting decisions.
SWAG described the alleged practice as an affront to human dignity, democratic freedom and the rights of vulnerable citizens, warning that economic hardship should not be exploited to compromise the political choices of persons with disabilities.
“Persons with disabilities are not electoral pawns whose economic difficulties should be exploited for political advantage.
The group argued that rather than subjecting persons with disabilities to political manipulation, governments at all levels had a constitutional responsibility to protect their welfare, promote equality and ensure their inclusion in national development.
Citing Sections 14(2)(b), 16(2)(d), 17 and 18 of the 1999 It also invoked the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which provides safeguards against discrimination and promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in education, employment, healthcare, transportation and other aspects of public life.
It also invoked the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which provides safeguards against discrimination and promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in education, employment, healthcare, transportation and other aspects of public life.
The group called on governments to move beyond election-period distribution of food and other temporary relief materials, insisting that persons with disabilities deserved sustainable social protection, accessible healthcare, rehabilitation services, assistive devices, inclusive education and employment opportunities.
It also demanded accessible public infrastructure and policies that would enable persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in governance and national development.
Linking its position to the political philosophy of Adebayo, the group said the SDP presidential candidate’s social democratic ideology placed human welfare, economic inclusion and social justice at the centre of governance.
It referenced Adebayo’s 2027–2031 governance and accelerated development blueprint, titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, alongside its 12 presidential missions, describing the document as a framework for tackling poverty, inequality and social exclusion
SWAG said the proposed blueprint recognised the need to guarantee persons with disabilities access to basic necessities, healthcare, education, productive employment and economic opportunities
It also called for greater representation of persons with disabilities in democratic decision-making, arguing that they should have a voice in policies and programmes affecting their lives.
SWAG subsequently urged the Lagos State Government, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, the Independent National Electoral Commission and relevant security agencies to investigate the allegations and protect those affected.
It specifically demanded that the authorities ensure that no person with a disability was denied legitimate welfare assistance for refusing to support a particular political party.
“The intimidation of vulnerable citizens and the use of their economic circumstances to compromise electoral choices must stop,” the group stated.
Expressing concern over the credibility of the 2027 general elections, SWAG accused the APC of allegedly relying on political inducements rather than good governance to secure electoral support.
The group maintained that Nigerians should not be expected to exchange their democratic rights for temporary material benefits, particularly amid worsening economic hardship, hunger, poverty and inequality.
It said the 2027 elections presented an opportunity to mobilise Nigerians behind what it described as a genuine social democratic alternative.
Our objective is not merely to replace one political establishment with another that subscribes to the same neoliberal, anti-poor policies, but to support a government that regards the welfare of citizens as its primary responsibility,” the statement added.
The group reaffirmed that persons with disabilities were entitled to dignity, protection and equal opportunities, urging relevant authorities to ensure that their economic circumstances were not used as instruments of political coercion.
Note for publication: The allegations against APC agents should remain attributed to SWAG unless independently verified. It would also be journalistically appropriate to seek a response from the Lagos APC and the relevant government agencies before publication.
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