APC threatens to sue PDP over alleged discriminatory statement

The North East Zone of the APC has threatened legal action against Alhaji Umar Damagum,  Deputy Chairman, North, PDP, over alleged discriminatory remarks on People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs).

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

Isa said his attention was drawn to a statement allegedly credited to Damagum on Nov. 8, at 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.

According to  him, this contradicts Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act, 2018 and Section 52 of the  Electoral Act and United Convention for the right of Persons with Disabilities.

Isa, therefore,  issued a seven days ultimatum to the PDP deputy national chairman, North, to withdraw his utterances and apologize.

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

Responding in a statement, Damagum said his statement was not targeted at the  PLWDs.

“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.