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.
Hausa Gabriel Fashanu Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi Sulyman Abdulkareem Mohammed Danjuma Yahaya Seriki Gambari General Hospital, Ilorin Onilu Umar Danladi Shero Salihu Ajibola Ajia Okin Biscuits Zubair Folorunsho Erubu Ahman Patigi Isiaka Yusuf Alikinla Oluwatoyin Lukman Kunle Okeowo Harafat E. Mukadam Abatemi-Usman Abikan Doyin Awoyale General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ridwan Agboola Ganiyu Abolarin Adisa Logun Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf Sayomi Aliyu Salihu Bayo Ojo Olomu Of Omu-Aran JAAC Aliyu Muhammed Afonja Funmilayo Zubair Ibrahim Agboola Gambari LEAH Charity Foundation Tsaragi Tafida Of Ilorin Shaaba Lafiagi Ahman Pategi Rafiu Olasile Abiodun Abdulkareem Farouk Salim Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Iyabo Dupe Adekeye Student Learning Support Helpline Lucky Omoluwa Gwanara Federal Allocation Age AbdulKareem Erubu Oba Zubair Demola Banu Baboko Primary School Jare Olatundun Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi Adeleke Ogungbe Mohammed Saidu Elerin Of Adanla Yahaya Abdulkareem Nigeria Customs Service Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan Shagari Umar Bayo Abdulwahab AbdulGaniyu Kareem Village Alive Development Association Gani Saadu Offa Descendants Union Okedare Oloriegbe Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence Simeon Ajibola Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita Alapado Bayo Lawal Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman Kwara Liberation Group

