A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Tolu Bankole, has called on political leaders across the country to take deliberate steps toward ensuring the full inclusion of Persons With Disabilities in governance.
Bankole, who is the National Leader of PWDs in the APC, made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday, insisting that symbolic gestures must give way to measurable representation.
The APC chieftian also acknowledged ongoing efforts by the ruling party under President Bola Tinubu to promote inclusiveness.
“The All Progressives Congress, under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside APC governors across the states, has made notable strides in advancing inclusion for Persons With Disabilities, demonstrating a growing commitment to equity in governance,” he said.
He noted that policy interventions and practical support measures have improved access to opportunities for PWDs, adding that, “the administration has strengthened the implementation of disability-friendly frameworks, expanded access to opportunities, and promoted the visibility of PWDs within public institutions.”
Bankole also cited the recent 50 percent reduction in nomination fees for PWD aspirants as a step in the right direction.
“The recent decision to grant a 50 percent reduction in nomination fees for PWD aspirants reflects a conscious effort to lower systemic barriers to political participation,” he stated.
However, Bankole stressed that such measures were insufficient without actual political representation.
He said, “While I sincerely thank our great party for these inclusive gestures, I must state clearly that it is not enough.
“Reducing nomination fees is important, but inclusion cannot stop at access to forms. It must extend to access to power, representation, and decision making.”
The APC chieftain urged political leaders and stakeholders to go beyond what he described as tokenism by implementing structural reforms that guarantee representation for PWDs.
“I appeal to political leaders at all levels and party stakeholders across the federation to go beyond tokenism and intentionally mainstream Persons With Disabilities into the political process,” Bankole stated.
He further called for the allocation of specific legislative seats to qualified PWD members within the party.
“Our party must go further by deliberately ceding a fair number of legislative seats at both the state and federal levels to PWDs in a representative and strategic manner. We have millions of qualified, competent, and committed PWD politicians within our ranks who are ready to serve and deliver,” he said.
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