By Tony Adibe
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Enugu State Chapter, has said that it is disturbed about what it regards as a “worsening administrative crisis” in the Enugu State Persons with Disabilities Commission.
JONAPWD made this known in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Meshack Adibe, on Sunday, after its 2nd Executive Committee meeting for 2026, held in Enugu over the weekend. Adibe said in the statement that the organization “deliberated extensively on the worsening administrative crisis in the Enugu State Persons with Disabilities Commission.
“The Commission was established by His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in November 2025, to serve as the hope and institutional voice for over 200,000 Persons with disabilities in Enugu State. It was created to guarantee our rights, welfare, empowerment, and full inclusion.
“It is therefore unacceptable that the progress of the Commission is now being threatened by avoidable internal power struggles”
“After due consultation, the Executive Committee hereby resolves as follows: “We condemn in the strongest terms any act of insubordination, usurpation of authority, or unilateral actions that undermine the Governing Board and the Law establishing the Commission by any individual.
“JONAPWD Enugu State hereby declares a full mobilization of the entire disability community across the 17 LGAs to defend the sanctity and functional operation of the Commission if those fuelling the leadership crisis fail to have a rethink.”
“We call on any individual or group, within or outside government, who are pushing, sponsoring, or supporting the current power tussle to have an immediate rethink and withdraw. The disability community will not fold its hands while selfish interests destroy the only institution for disability rights.
“We respectfully call on His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and all critical stakeholders and government machineries to *urgently intervene, provide clear operational guidelines, and restore discipline, accountability, and coordination* in the Commission without further delay.
“Nonetheless, the mandate of the Commission is sacred. It is greater than any individual. We will not allow administrative confusion, ego, or power play to sacrifice the future of Persons With Disabilities in Enugu State.
The statement added, “We would rather die than allow the Commission to become the opposite of the original intention for which it was established by His Excellency.
“The Disability Community is watching, and we are ready to act. Let it be known, anyone who chooses to stand against the progress of citizens with disabilities in Enugu State shall face the full wrath of divinity and the collective resistance of over 200,000 individuals with disabilities. Everything shouldn’t be politics.
“This special community is already wounded with obvious injuries by nature and cannot be aggravated by man-made self-centeredness. Curse be upon any individual or group in this direction in the name of administrative power prerogative. They insisted that “this is not about who occupies an office, adding that It’s about whether the institution created to serve us is actually working.
“We need Accessibility, Employment and Empowerment, Healthcare, Education, Social protection, Rehabilitation, Dignity and equal participation. The group posited that “We cannot allow personal interests, power struggles or administrative conflicts to steal opportunities provided by our Disability Inclusive Governor for over 200,000 of citizens with Disabilities in Enugu State.
“Our message is simple! Let us be clearer! From the 17 LGAs, our voices shall rise. Not in violence, but peaceful, lawful, and courageous! Our rights.
“Our dignity! Our future! Our voice! This must sink in the hearing of anyone involved and do not know much about the struggle we’ve gone through to the emergence of the Disability Commission.
“Enugu State JONAPWD remains loyal to His Excellency’s administration and to the vision of an inclusive Enugu State where No One Is Left Behind! Long Live Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah! Long Live Enugu State!”
