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.
KWACOBPA Kehinde Boyede Idowu Laro Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore Abdulwahab Oba KWASIEC Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia Valsolar Consultoria Ibrahim Oniye Afeyin-Olukuta Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen Abubakar Abdulraheem Abdulazeez Arowona Salihu Ajia Ilorin Emirate Staff Association Okeose Christian Cementary Paul Olawoore Lanre Aremu Monthly Sanitation Galadima Maimunat Oloriegbe Kale Belgore Awwal Jawondo Sola Saraki Educational Foundation Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory Wahab Femi Agbaje Kwara Consultative Forum Jawondo Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Yusuf Ali Mohammed Kamaludeen Oba Of Jebba Oke-Oyi Mohammed Ghali Alaaya Press Release CBT Yomi Ogunsola Adeniyi Ojo Abdulrahman Abdulrasak Vishvas KOZ Tractors Third Estate Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Titus Ashaolu Abubakar Imam Bello Oyebanji Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners 2023 Elections Ilorin.Info Wasiu Odewale Oba Sulaiman Asude Aminu Ado Bayero Tunji Folami Yoonus Kola Olatinwo Quareeb Islamic Association Sango-UITH Road Aishat Sulu-Gambari Ashiru Gbajabiamila New Model Police Station Razak Atunwa New Nigeria People’s Party Hassan Taiye Salam Kayode Laro BECE Bibire Ajape Gamji Members Association Kayode Oyin Zubair Okin High School Alabere Baba-Isale Aliyu Adebayo Hamidu Olowo Monsurat Omotosho Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon Yomi Adeboye UTME Yusuf Amuda Abubakar

