The Joint clusters of people Disability (PWD’s) in Kano civil society forum (KCSF) have rejected recent elections at the forum which saw the emergence of Muhammad Bello, the Chief Executive of African Center For Innovative Research and Development, as the new President of the Forum.
At a press conference in Kano on Saturday, the chairman of spinal cord injuries Association SCIAN, Kano state chapter Abdul Raham Uba Daushe on behalf of six other disabled association registered with the forum said coalition of all people living with disabilities in the forum rejected the election describing it as discriminatory, injustice as well as null and void.
According to him, non of their members were involved in the election process either to be voted or as official of the forum.
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“This hastily convened election is a blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of inclusivity, transparency, and democratic process. It is a gross violation of the rights of registered members of all Kano PWDs, who were deliberately excluded from participating in the electoral process,” said Daushe.
“We were not contacted, informed, or given the opportunity to exercise our right to vote or be voted for in the past pseudo election of leaders of Kano Civil Society Forum,” he further said.
The chairman continues to say “it is particularly disheartening to note that five critical and registered clusters of persons with disabilities under the forum, were systematically disenfranchised. These include the Spinal Cord Injuries Association, Nigerian Association for the Blind (NAB), Physically Challenge, IDEA, and Albino.”
“This exclusionary act is not only a betrayal of the principles we stand for but also a grave injustice to these vulnerable groups in democratic society like ours,” he stressed.
He emphasized that “from the foregoing, the leaderships of all clusters of PWDs in Kano wish to reiterate their unwavering allegiance to the incumbent leadership of Amb. Ibrahim Waiya and his cabinet. We believe that their stewardship has been marked by inclusivity, effectiveness, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the people of Kano State involved.”
Daushe then called on all stakeholders, including the general public, to treat the factional election with the contempt.
The chairman went further to expressed their commitment to exploring all legal and legitimate avenues to redress injustice and restore order to the forum.
Also speaking, Yahaya A. Yahaya, the chairman of person with physically challenge Kano state chapter said despite contesting for a position in the forum none of elections officials or any member communicated to him about the election only for him to here the emergence of new leaders over the radio.
He rejected the new leadership affirming that their coalition recognized Ibrahim A Waiya as the legitimate chairman of the forum.
“Any leadership other that that of Waiya is null and void, we will not recognized it, but if free, fair and credible election is hold, whoever emerged winner we will support him in discharging his constitutional responsibilities,” said Yahaya.