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.
Abdulrasheed Akogun Saadu Gbogbo Iwe Aminu Ado Bayero Atunwa IYA ALFA NLA Sadiq Buhari Alloy Chukwuemeka Kamaldeen Kehinde Adedipe Baba Issa Awoye Babaita Gobirawa Oro Grammar School Olohungbebe Buhari GGDSS Pakata Saliu Alamoyo Forgo Battery Company Limited National Broadcasting Commission Binta Abubakar-Mora Abubakar B.M United Nigeria Congress Party Kwasu Saka Onimago Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir Razak Atunwa Olusin Of Ijara Isin Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Idris Garba Oke-Ode Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab Alabi Lawal Obayomi Azeez Ajakaye Maimunat Oniyangi April 11 Wahab Abayawo Issa Oloruntogun Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum Hassan Saliu Aro Yahaya Ifelodun Ilorin South Constituency Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman Nigeria Computer Society Park Babajide Ajayi KSIRS Shaaba Lafiagi Old Oyo Kwara State Geographic Information Service Oye Tinuoye Joana Nnazua Kolo Bolakale Saka Suraj Tunji Oyewale AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro John Dara Zulkifli Ibraheem Kpotum Mohammed Baba Saliu Oluwole Oke-Odo Aso-ofi Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi Wahab Femi Agbaje Aiyedun Government House Taofeeq Olateju Taofeek Sanusi Kwara North Nurudeen Muhammed Ado Bayero Abdulkadir Jimoh Lithium Deposit Ibrahim Bio Akanbi-Oke Abdulmajeed Wahab Balogun Fulani

