Empowering Nigerians with Mental Health Conditions to Participate in Political Life

The political climate in Nigeria is one that is filled with discrimination and prejudice, and as such, persons with psychosocial disabilities are not exempted. In a country that views mental health conditions as a form of ‘madness’ and ‘lunacy’, it does not come as a surprise that its domestic laws hinder persons with psychosocial disabilities from participating in politics.

The Electoral Act (2010) is another legislation that discriminates and hinders persons with psychosocial disabilities from participating in politics in Nigeria. Section 107 states:

(1) A person shall not be qualified to contest an Area Council election under this Act if...

(b) he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind under any law in force in any part of Nigeria…