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.
Baba Issa Amusa Bello Magaji Nda Ballah Government House Wole Oke Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez Basit Olatunji Ile Arugbo Falokun-Oja Kwara Pdp Firdaos Amasa Muslim Cementary Yusuf Zulu-Gambari Pilgrims Board Shade Omoniyi Budo-Egba Ajibola Ademola Julius Ayinde Oki Seun Bolaji BIR AIT Ilorin SWAN Kwara Wahab Isa Mohammed Lawal Bagega IFK Kolawole Akande Yahaya Oloriegbe Forgo Battery Amoyo Monsurat Omotosho Olofa Of Offa Taofik Abdulkareem ASMAU PLAZA Oyedun Juliana Funke Apado Kazeem Oladepo Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji Yashikira Susan Modupe Oluwole Sheu Ndanusa Usman Age AbdulKareem NFAI Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency Olaiya Lawal Oke-opin Rotimi Samuel Olujide Jamila Bio Ibrahim Durosinlohun Atiku Tunde Yusuf Radio Kwara Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria Yekeen Alabi Kwara United Alfa Yahaya Road Isaac Aderemi Kolawole Paul Olawoore AbdulRazaq Jiddah Onikijipa Abdulahi Abubakar Bata Aminu Ado Bayero Ilota Buari Edun Abdulrasheed Akogun Moshood Mustapha Maja Sunday Popo-Ola Patience Jonathan Taofik Abiodun Ahmed Baba Isale Magaji Are Metro Park Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh Bola Tinubu Muhammed Abdullahi Moses Salami

