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.
Memunat Monsuma Ibrahim Abdullahi Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria Amos Justus Sayo Shuaib Olarongbe Michael Ologundea Iyaloja-General KSIRS Abdulraheem Yusuf M.Y. Abdulrahaman Kunle Suleiman Kwara Consultative Forum Arinola Lawal Saka Adeyemo Niguel Gallando Marcias Okiki Babata Shonga Farm Project Olayinka Are Ajibike Katibi Ola Falade Bolakale Saka Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange Popo-Igbonna Balikis Jawondo Omoniyi M. Ayinla Ballah Senate Ajeigbe Press Release Ishola Moses Abiodun Abdulraufu Mustapha Lateef Fagbemi Abdullahi Samari Adewuyi Funmilayo Arik Lanre Issa-Onilu IHS Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship ASUU National Information Technology Development Agency Funmi Salau Ben Duntoye Balogun Ajikobi Shettima Mahmud Babatunde Baker Jide Oyinloye Onilorin Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development Jalala SGBN Yakub Ali-Agan Joseph Daudu Arinola Fatimoh Lawal Aliyu Sabi Yusuf Abdulwahab Ahmed \'Lateef Razaq Ayobami Akanbi Boko Haram Overland Habeeb Saidu Garba Dogo Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu Abubakar Baba Sulaiman Abubakar Olusola Saraki Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode Ambassador Kayode Laro Yusuf Abdulraheem MMWG Tayo Awodiji Saka Isau Sebastine Obasi AbdulQowiy Olododo Florence Saraki Olumide Daniel Ibitoye Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation Olatunji Ibrahim

