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.
Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat Ahmad Lawan Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency Sardauna Of Ilorin Prince Sunday Fagbemi Moshood Bakare Mazars Consulting Femi Agbaje Suleiman Mora Omar Abdulraheem Olesin Otunba Taiwo Joseph Yunus Oniboki Seni Saraki Oladimeji Thompson Ghali Alaaya Elerinjare Yakubu Dogara Olatunji Abdulmumeen Lai Mohammed Opolo Global Innovation Limited Smart School Lola Ashiru Onilorin Of Ilorin KWASIEC Olaoye B. Felix Yakubu Gobir KSIRS Olaiya Zuberu Prince Mahe Abdulkadir Kwara Apc Abdulquawiy Olododo Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku Isiaka Rafiu Mope Kamoru Kadiri Busari Alabi Alausa Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone Rotimi Samuel Olujide Yusuf Badmus Doyin Agbamu Abdulsalam A. Yusuf Isapa National Party Of Nigeria Ado Ibrahim AbdulRahman Saad IF-K Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi Amusement Park Abdullah Janet Amudat Umar Sanda Yusuf Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria Simon Sayomi Falokun-Oja Igbomina Umar Gunu Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan Salihu Alhaji Musa Fatai Adeniyi Garba Omoniyi M. Ayinla Kaosarah Adeyi Ahmad Fatima Bisola Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak Muhammadu Gobir Benin Republic Osuwa Kwara Liberation Group BIR Wahab Issa Ayobola Ipinlaiye Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla Atiku GRA Madawaki Lanre Issa Onilu Paul Odama Towoju Elerin Of Erin-Ile Balikis Jawondo

