By Lanre Oloyede
The National Leader of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the All Progressives Congress, Aare (Hon) Tolu Bankole, has canvassed for reservation of guaranteed slots in both elective and appointive positions for qualified PWDs in the party.
The PWDs national leader, in a statement personally signed on Thursday, argued that though the party has done well with the recent decision to grant a 50 percent waiver in nomination fees for PWD aspirants on the platform of the party, however, inclusion cannot stop at access to forms, rather it must extend to access to power, representation, and decision making.
The APC chieftain, therefore, called for the ceding of specific legislative slots to qualified PWD members within the party, noting that the community boasts a large pool of capable and experienced politicians who can handle such positions efficiently.
He also emphasised the need for similar inclusion in executive appointments, stressing that governance must reflect the diversity of society.
While acknowledging that the APC under the leadership of President 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, Hon. Bankole urged leaders at all levels and party stakeholders to move beyond policy symbolism and embrace intentional inclusion through structural reforms that guarantee representation.
In continuing, he said: “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.
“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.
“This deliberate inclusion must not be limited to legislative positions alone. Executive roles at all levels must also reflect this commitment. Inclusion must be seen, felt, and measured in real governance structures,” he added.
Hon. Bankole drew comparisons with global best practices, noting that several countries have made significant strides in ensuring political representation for Persons With Disabilities.
“In parts of Europe, disability representation in parliaments is estimated between 3 and 6 percent, with countries like the United Kingdom and Sweden advancing inclusive political participation through strong legal frameworks. Across Asia, countries such as India have constitutional provisions reserving seats for persons with disabilities in their governance structures, while in Africa, nations like Rwanda and South Africa have adopted inclusive frameworks that ensure participation of marginalised groups, including PWDs,” he said.
He contrasted these figures with Nigeria’s reality, where representation of Persons With Disabilities in elective and appointive positions remains significantly below 1 percent.
“In Nigeria, despite our population size and democratic maturity, representation of PWDs in governance remains negligible, far below one percent. This gap is not due to a lack of capacity, but a lack of deliberate inclusion,” Bankole noted.
He stressed that the time for decisive action is now, warning that delaying inclusive reforms could further marginalise millions of Nigerians.
“Now is the time for intentional, structured, and measurable inclusion. We must not wait until it becomes too late to correct systemic exclusion. Talking about inclusion when the opportunity to act has passed serves no one’s interest,” he said.
Bankole reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for the rights and political advancement of Persons With Disabilities within the APC and Nigeria at large, expressing optimism that the party can lead the way in setting a national standard for inclusive governance.
“Our party has the opportunity to lead by example and redefine political inclusion in Nigeria. Let us rise to this moment and ensure that governance at all levels truly reflects the diversity and strength of our people,” he concluded.
