APC Threatens Legal Action Against PDP Chieftain Over Discriminatory Statement

The APC’s North East Zone has threatened legal action against Alhaji Umar Damagum, Deputy Chairman, North, PDP, for allegedly making discriminatory remarks about people with disabilities.

Mr Muhammad Isa, the APC North-East zonal leader for PLWDs, stated this at a news conference in Damaturu on Saturday.

Isa stated that he was drawn to a statement allegedly attributed to Damagum on November 8, during the party’s presidential campaign in Maiduguri, Borno.

“Damagum  expressly stated in Hausa language, to the effect that if one is given  a choice to elect between disabled persons and none disabled persons, who will the people choose?

“Indeed we are all offended by the  statement, we all view it as an insult, disrespect and discriminatory against PLWDs,” he said.

This, he claims, is in violation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act of 2018, Section 52 of the Electoral Act, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

As a result, Isa gave the PDP deputy national chairman, North, a seven-day deadline to withdraw his remarks and apologize.

“Therefore, you are given seven days from this date  to retract your statement and tender apologies to all  PLWDs.

In a statement, Damagum stated that his remarks were not directed at people with disabilities.

“I want to state categorically here that my statement was just a simple Hausa expression that represents ‘strong and healthy with capacity.’

“Alluding to our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, my statement was not targeted at millions of people living with disabilities in Nigeria or anywhere on this planet.

“Neither did I mean to be insensitive to these special group of people,  whom our party and I as a person,  hold in high esteem,” he explained.

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