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.
Suleiman Mora Omar Apaola Ishaq Salman Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman Maimunat Oloriegbe Yusuf Mubarak Gani Saadu National Democratic Congress Toyin Sanusi Logun Hussein Oloyede Busari Toyin Isiaka Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa Wahab Kunle Shittu Salau Kabiru Abdullahi Bayo Lawal Abubakar Aliagan Adama Isa KWASSIP Millennium Development Goals CLAY POT Ramadan Kwara State Fish Farmers Association Olaiya Lawal Teachers Specific Allowance Samuel Olusegun Adedayo Binta Abubakar-Mora Charles Ibitoye Ishola Abdullahi Students Union Government Oke-Ero Unilorin FM JAMB Anilelerin Okin Biscuits Sobi Hill General Hospital, Offa IsDB Olomu Of Omu-Aran Susan Modupe Oluwole Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State Laolu Saraki Federal Polytechnic Offa Ndama Al-hassan CKNG KWSUED Adedipe Young Progressives Party High Court Okanlawon Musa AGF Abdulrazaq Law School Scholarship Simeon Ajibola CCB Bolakale Kawu Agaka Peculiar Allowance Convocation Ceremonies Gambari Academic Staff Union Of Universities Makama Of Kaiama Ilesha-Baruba Oba Of Jebba Jaigbade Alao John Dara Shoprite Shaykh Luqman Jimoh Abdullahi AbdulMajeed Moshood Bakare James Kolo Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Oluwole Dupe Odo-Owa Sa\'ad Alanamu Saka Aleshinloye Seni Saraki Shehu Alimi Foundation Ojo Fadumila

