By Ovat Abeng
TAF Africa under the Able to Vote campaign and supported by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists on inclusive electoral reporting.
It was gathered that the workshop focus on strengthening media support for the political participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The workshop that took place at Hilton Leisure hotel in Awka, on Tuesday brought together media practitioners from across the state to discuss ethical reporting, disability rights, and the role of the press in fostering inclusive elections ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State.
In her opening remarks, TAF Africa’s Program Manager, Lynn Agwuncha, emphasized the power of the media in shaping public opinion and electoral engagement, especially among marginalized groups while underscoring key topics such as understanding disability rights in Nigeria’s electoral law (Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2022), practical tools for inclusive reporting, the use of respectful, non-stigmatizing language, and media strategies for covering accessibility issues at polling units.
Speaking on “Understanding Disability and Intersectionality in Elections,” TAF Africa’s Programme Officer gave a breakdown of Section 54 of the Electoral Act and what it guarantees for voters with disabilities, Mr. George Anwayi explained the importance of recognizing multiple layers of discrimination and ensuring that all aspects of the electoral process are accessible.
Delivering a presentation titled Reframing the Media Narrative on Disability: How Common Media Stereotypes Hurt Persons with Disabilities and What We Must Do Differently, Mr. Edeatan Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda, explained that stereotypes are harmful because they reduce the complexity of individuals to single characteristics as according to him, they distort public understanding and portray persons with disabilities as objects of pity, rather than as full human beings.
Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, a representative of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), stated that it is not enough to merely claim that elections are inclusive emphasizing that the media must demonstrate, through their reporting, how inclusive the process truly is, which is why such workshops are crucial in Anambra and Nigeria at large.
Participants, in their separate speeches, expressed appreciation for the training, pledging to apply the knowledge gained in their work and called for sustained collaboration between media houses, electoral bodies, and disability advocacy groups to ensure inclusive democratic participation.