Disability Forum pledges 5m votes for Tinubu, Yusuf in 2027

By Edito 3 days ago 0

By our correspondent

The Society for People with Disability Forum in Northern Nigeria has pledged to mobilise five million votes for President Bola Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the 2027 general elections.

The National Chairman of the forum, Comrade Yarima Sulaiman Ibrahim, made the pledge at a gathering in Kano attended by representatives of persons with disabilities from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ibrahim said the forum had passed a vote of confidence in the administrations of Tinubu and Yusuf, expressing support for their re-election bids.

He said the organisation would mobilise its members, their families and other supporters to participate in the elections and support the two leaders.

“We are promising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu five million votes from persons with disabilities in Northern Nigeria. We believe we can mobilise even more people before the election,” he said.

The forum, however, called on the Federal Government to strengthen the inclusion of persons with disabilities in political appointments and governance.

Ibrahim said the group was seeking greater representation in ministerial appointments, government agencies and other public offices, stressing that inclusion should go beyond social welfare and empowerment programmes.

He said the forum was advocating five per cent representation for persons with disabilities in political appointments and decision-making positions.

According to him, greater representation would enable persons with disabilities to contribute directly to policy formulation and the implementation of government programmes.

Ibrahim also disclosed that the forum had discussed political representation with Gov. Yusuf, expressing hope that members of the disability community would be considered for commissioner-level appointments if the governor secured re-election.

Also speaking, the Kano State Chairman of the society, Sa’adu Ibrahim Gezawa, said members of the organisation across the northern states would mobilise support for the candidates endorsed by the forum.

Gezawa said the organisation remained committed to promoting the interests of persons with disabilities through political participation and engagement with government.

In his remarks, Gov. Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

He described persons with disabilities as important contributors to the development of Kano State and Nigeria, adding that their participation was essential to inclusive and sustainable development.

The governor said his administration had introduced measures to support persons with disabilities through employment opportunities, economic empowerment initiatives and skills acquisition programmes.

He said inclusive governance required deliberate policies to ensure that persons with disabilities participated meaningfully in public life and benefited from government interventions.

The forum’s pledge comes as political groups and other stakeholders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.