APC Chieftain Advocates for PWD Legislative Representation

Tolu Bankol, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), called on political leaders across Nigeria to take significant steps towards ensuring full legislative representation for persons with disabilities (PWDs). In a statement issued on Thursday, Bankol acknowledged the ongoing efforts by the APC under President Bola Tinubu to promote inclusivity for PWDs, noting recent advancements such as a 50% reduction in nomination fees for PWD aspirants.

However, he emphasized that these measures are insufficient without actual political representation. Bankol urged political leaders to implement structural reforms that guarantee representation for PWDs and suggested allocating specific legislative seats for qualified PWD members within the party.

He pointed out that Nigeria's representation of PWDs in governance remains critically low, far below 1%, and warned against delaying the implementation of inclusive reforms. Bankol expressed optimism that the APC could set a national benchmark for inclusive governance, urging leaders to ensure that government structures reflect the diversity of the populace.