ASSESSMENT OF THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION OF PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS IN THE POLITICS OF ONDO STATE OF NIGERIA: 1999-2018

Abstract

This research examined the physically challenged persons‟ participation and representation in the politics and decision- making system of Ondo State since the advent of the fourth republic (1999-2019). Available and existing literature showed that the physically challenged represent small percentage of the Nigerian population and the same is true of the population of Ondo State. The research investigated the inverse relationship between the population of physically challenged persons and their representation in leadership positions in Ondo state, particularly in the executive and legislative arms of government in the period under review. The study adopted theory of participatory democracy and action theory model of personality as its theoretical frameworks to guide the work. The research methodology comprised the use of primary and secondary data. The primary data were derived from interview and survey with emphasis on the administration and analysis of well-structured questionnaire while textbooks, journals, internet materials and government official bulletin on the subject matter served as sources of the secondary data. Frequency counts, percentage and descriptive methods were used for the analysis of the result. The research also examined the roles of environmental factors, people‟s perceptions of the physically challenged persons, psychological constraints and such others associated with disabilities which affect the political participation of the physically challenged and their representation in the politics of Ondo State specifically and the nation at large. The findings of the study provide veritable tools and insights for researchers, public policy analysts, electoral agencies, political parties and sociologists in the quest to deal with the problem of physically challenged persons‟ participation in politics and governance. Equally, the outcome of the research, no doubt, enhances future research and discourse on democratic participation and representation in Nigeria generally.