Kwara Female Political Stakeholders Decry Exclusion in Local Government Primaries
According to a news report from the Nigerian Tribune, female political stakeholders in Kwara State have condemned the alleged subtle exclusion of women candidates by political parties in the ongoing local government election primaries in the state.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday, the leadership of civil society organisations in the state, led by the Executive Director of Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV), Mrs. Tosin Apiriola-Ajayi, expressed concern that the presence of women in political offices remains disproportionately low, despite women constituting a significant portion of the electorate.
The group accused political parties of playing a pivotal role in this issue, stating that parties often perpetuate traditional gender roles and fail to provide equal opportunities for women candidates.
“The subtle exclusion of women by political parties takes various forms, such as lack of support for women's candidacies, biased media coverage, and a dearth of financial resources allocated to women candidates.
“These practices contribute to a political culture that is unwelcoming to women, thereby reinforcing the gender gap in political representation,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the League of Women Voters, Hajia Bilqis Oladimeji, said that political parties have not been taking the 35% affirmative action into cognizance in zoning positions within the LGAs in Kwara State.
Oladimeji also said that free tickets announced by political parties for women had not translated to the meaningful emergence of women for key political offices in the state.
“We, therefore, call on political parties to honor the 35% affirmative action as enshrined in conventions, treaties, and agreements.
“Women should be given a chance and wholly supported to attain offices within the LGAs, including the chairmanship position.
“The time to position Kwara State higher as a gender-friendly state is now through the LGA elections. As such, we must not relent in pushing women to the front.
“Political parties should support women to emerge not only as women leaders and vice-chairpersons within ward levels but also to hold other major offices to enhance decision-making.”
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Yakubu Dogara Iyiola Oyedepo Maimunat Oloriegbe Kwara Polytechnic Yusuf Abdulkadir Makama Of Kaiama Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu Okin Biscuits Wahab Femi Agbaje Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Budo-Egba Kale Kawu Abdulkadir Orire Abatemi-Usman KW-GIS Kwara State Polytechnic Roheemat Hammed IHS HICA Saadu Gbogbo Iwe Ilesha Gwanara Road Yoruba IYA ALFA NLA Bello Oyebanji Funmilayo Mohammed Dan-Kazeem Students Union Government Tunde Mukaila Mustapha Ilorin Like-Minds Salmon Babatunde Salmon Owo Isowo Kayode Ibrahim Opobiyi University Road Ishola Abdullahi Sanitation Exercise Razaq Atunwa Bello Bature Olota Of Odo-Owa Awoye Saraki IF-K Onilupeju Of Ilupeju Ilorin Central Mosque Alao Ayotunde Labaeka Olatinwo Lafia Aliyu Korasabi Mohammed Yahaya Barki Ilesha-Gwanara Femi Ogunsola Dagbalodo Barakat Community Secondary School Ibrahim Taiwo Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria Amos Bajeh Unilorin FM Abdulwahab Ololele Mohammed Ibrahim Sa\'adu Gambari Chief Imam Of Offa Muritala Olarewaju Olupako Of Share Kazeem Oladepo Aiyedun Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita Ajidagba Abdulazeez Arowona Igbaja Folorunsho Erubu Orisun Igbomina Abdulganiyu Oladosu Isiaka Danmeromu Seni Saraki Ganiyu Abolarin Monkey Pox Kwara TV

