By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
A Visually impaired House of Representatives hopeful for Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, in Niger State, on the platform of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Abdulrahman Awal, has raised an alarm over alleged plot to undermine his candidature through falsehood, disability based prejudices among others and against democratic norms.
Awal, the only physically challenged person that has attained the level in Niger state, pointed accusing fingers on his perceived political rival, one Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Katcha.
He said he formally joined the NDC in May this year, purchased Expression of Interest form same month in accordance with the NDC approved timetable before any other person in the area, joined the party and purchased form for the Bida/Gbako/Katcha House of Representatives seat.
Awal in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday in Minna said, while he was already putting finishing touches to his expression of interest form, his rival, Abubakar Katcha was still in another political party until 19th May 2026, and formally joined the NDC on 20th May 2026, while the party primaries in which he was duly recognised as sole candidate was conducted on 29th of May 2026.
Expressing disgust over attacks on him and the NDC leadership in Niger state, Awal said, “My attention has been drawn to a publication credited to Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Katcha containing series of allegations against my person, my candidature, the leadership of the NDC in Niger state, and the process that led to my emergence as the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives election for Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency”.
While every member of a democratic society has the right to express dissatisfaction through lawful means, Awal who is protesting against his opponent’s ploy to malign and ridicule him due to his physical impairment reminded his detractors that, “No one has the rights to distort facts, promote prejudice, nor attack the dignity of another citizen for the singular purpose of gaining political relevance”.
“For the benefits of party members, the media, and the public, I consider it necessary to place the following facts on record, I formally join the NDC from ADC on 6th May 2026, lawfully purchased my Expression of Interest Form on 14th May 2026 in accordance with the timetable approved by our great party while the complainant was still in another political party until 19th May 2026, formally joined the NDC on 20th May 2026, while the party primary was conducted on 29th May 2026”.
According to him, the dates are matters of official record, and are capable of independent verification, Awal pointed out as he reminded Katcha that, “Political parties are governed by their constitutions, electoral guidelines and established procedures while participation in any nomination process is determined by compliance with those rules, not by subsequent dissatisfaction with the outcome.
He said that any disagreement arising from the process ought to be addressed through the constitutionally recognised internal and legal channels rather than through sensational public attacks designed to discredit the party and its duly nominated candidate.
More disturbing than the political allegations, Awal explained, is the ”repeated attempts to portray my visual disability as evidence of incapacity to serve in elective office”, adding that such statements are unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.
Awal, who had served as Special Adviser for eight years to the immediate past Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, now Senator Abubakar Sani Bello representing Niger North Senatorial District of Niger State in the National Assembly Abuja (Zone C) said, “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantees equality before the law and protects every citizen against discriminations. Section 42 prohibits discriminations against any Nigerian on prohibited grounds”.
Also, “Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 affirms the equal rights of persons with disabilities to participate fully in political and public life and prohibits every form of discrimination based on disability”.
While calling for the intervention of the national leadership of the NDC, persons with disabilities within and outside Nigeria, the former Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the former Governor, insists that, “No provision of the Constitution disqualifies a competent Nigerian from seeking elective office merely because he/she has a disability”.
The Bida/Gbako/Katcha House of Representatives hopeful stated further in clear terms that, attempts to persuade the electorates that disability is synonymous with incompetence are inconsistent with the values of justice, equality, and inclusion upon which Nigeria’s constitutional democracy rests.
The politician cum- entrepreneur, also told Katcha and his clique that, “Leadership is determined by vision, integrity, competence, experience, courage, and commitments to public service, not determined by the conditions of one’s eyesight”.
“Throughout my years of public engagement, I have consistently demonstrated my capacity through service rather than empty rhetorics. I have served as a Senior Special Adviser to a Governor, a Public Relations professional, author, entrepreneur, advocate for good governance, promoter of youth empowerment, Executive Director of the Quality Life for Persons with Special Needs Foundation, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, and a voice for inclusive governance, conflict resolution, educationist, and community development”.
The Author and Public Relations professional reminded those underating his determinations to make a difference in life that his records of achievement and previous responsibilities he handled meritoriously were not assigned to him out of sympathy, but because of proven competence, commitments, and results.
Bida/Gbako/Katcha federal constituency, he said deserves campaigns centred on ideas, policies, accountability, economic development, education, security, youths empowerment, agriculture, healthcare, and quality representation better than politics founded upon discriminations against a person with disability.
Words of caution and a reminder to political enemies plotting his downfall because he is visually impaired, Awal said, “It is also important to remind all political actors that freedom of expression carries corresponding legal responsibilities. Every citizen enjoys the right to protect his reputation against false, malicious, defamatory, or discriminatory publications”.
While calling on NDC members Bida/Gbako/Katcha to remain united without which efforts of the party to make desired impacts will be stagnated, Awal said, “Internal disagreements should strengthen our institutions through lawful dialogue rather than weaken our collective aspirations through public hostility”.
The former political Aide to former Governor Bello also added that, “History will not remember those who attempted to divide people on the basis of disability, but those who stood firmly for justice, equality, constitutional democracy, and the dignity of every Nigerian”.
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