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.
Moronfoye Yahya Mohammed Na\'Allah Turaki Yusuf A. Usman Chief Of Staff SWAN Haliru Yahaya CLAY POT Revenue Court Ajidagba Kwara State Pension Board Amada Jidda Apado General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Simeon Sayomi Lawan Bareke Oko-Olowo Babs Iwarere Musa Ayinla Yeketi AGILE Programme Alaaya Durosinlohun Atiku Ibrahim Bio Yahaya Muhammad Obasanjo Olugbense Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory Ogbondoroko Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja Saka Asiat Ayinke Sheu Ndanusa Usman TVC Female National Debate Aremu Bose Deborah Democracy Day AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa Halimah Perogi Salihu Jibril Garbi Ojuekun Sarumi Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao Aishat Mohammed Lawal Gurei Ahmad Belgore Kwara State University Of Education Kwabes Twitter Saliu Alamoyo Salihu Yahaya Funmilayo Oniwa ASUU Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi Moro Suleiman Alege Kuranga Alapado Issa Oloruntogun Pius Abioje Osi Lateef Fagbemi Kudirat Arinola Lawal Abubakar Ndakene Maryam A. Garuba Alabere Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Adedipe Bolaji Aladie Frootify Ganiyu Abolarin Talaka Parapo AbdulRazaq Jiddah Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory Universal Basic Education Commission Olateju Lukman Ibrahim Oloriegbe Tinubu Ilorin International Airport

