ADC leader: Democracy Cannot Thrive Without Including Persons with Disabilities

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — Chike Okogwu, the National Leader of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the African Democratic Congress, warned that Nigeria’s democracy is incomplete while millions of people with disabilities are excluded from opportunities, services and governance.

In a message for Democracy Day titled “Democracy Without Access is Democracy Denied,” Okogwu said many of the concerns he raised four years ago about the challenges faced by PWDs remain unresolved.

He argued that a true democracy is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens, noting that discrimination, exclusion and inaccessible public facilities continue to deny many Nigerians with disabilities the full benefits of democratic governance.

Okogwu said the worsening economic situation has hit persons with disabilities disproportionately, with rising food prices, transportation costs and medical expenses pushing vulnerable households deeper into hardship.

He also expressed concern about the impact of insecurity on PWDs, noting that they face unique risks during attacks, displacement and humanitarian emergencies because of inadequate disability‑sensitive response systems.

The ADC leader identified unemployment as another major challenge, despite the growing number of qualified and educated PWDs. He blamed discrimination and inaccessible recruitment processes for excluding capable citizens from the workforce.

He added that unreliable electricity supply poses a serious threat to the independence and wellbeing of many PWDs who rely on assistive devices, medical equipment and communication tools that require constant power.

Regarding healthcare, Okogwu said many hospitals remain inaccessible, while rehabilitation services, assistive devices and sign‑language interpretation are either unavailable or unaffordable, leaving many PWDs without adequate care.

He also highlighted transportation and aviation as sectors needing urgent reform, noting that public transport systems, pedestrian infrastructure and many airport facilities still fall short of accessibility standards despite some improvements in aviation.

The ADC disability leader warned against growing digital exclusion, saying that government services, education and economic opportunities are increasingly moving online without adequate accessibility measures for persons with disabilities.

While acknowledging the existence of the Disability Act, Okogwu said implementation has remained weak, arguing that legislation alone is insufficient without visible improvements in the daily lives of those it is intended to protect.

He called on the government, political parties, the private sector and civil society organisations to move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt policies that guarantee social protection, accessible healthcare, inclusive education, economic empowerment, transportation access and disability‑sensitive security planning.

According to him, the ADC will prioritise the full implementation of disability rights, targeted social protection programmes, inclusive employment policies and accessibility standards across public institutions as part of its governance agenda.

“The more than 30 million Nigerians living with disabilities are not seeking charity but justice, equal opportunity and meaningful participation. Nigeria’s democracy will remain unfinished until inclusion becomes a reality for all citizens,” he said.

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