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.
Dan Iya Ayodele Shittu Yusuf Abdulraheem Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku Aminat Ahmed ASUU Coronavirus College Of Education Ilorin Water Reticulation Lukman Adeloyin Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon Shonga Peter Amogbonjaye John Olajide Adedipe Olawuyi Fatima Abolore Jimoh Ajuloopin Kayode Issa Ronke Adeyemi Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh Sulyman Abdulkareem Adama Isa Peter Obi Oloyede Mary Kemi Adeosun Ope Saraki Tsaragi/Share Halimat Yusuf Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade Usman Alkali Baba Kulende Osinbajo Toyin Saraki Chemiroy Nigeria Limited Isiaka Gold Nupe Abdulkadir Orire Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja Ahmed Shuaib Buranga Alanamu Jide Oyinloye AGILE Programme Abdulmumini Jawondo AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem Dairo Kunle Paul Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Lanre Aremu Solomon Edoja Aminu Adisa Logun Lawal Arinola Kudirat Adamu Jemilat-Baki Presidential Election Samari Bello Bature Ubandoma Kayode Alabi Abdullahi AbdulMajeed Iqra Books Tunde Saad Mufti Of Ilorin Oyawoye Abdulrauf Aliyu Abubakar Kawu Baraje Mumini Ishola Hanafi Ndakene Wale Oladepo National Broadcasting Commission Aliyu Kora-Sabi Principal Private Secretary Nigerian Correctional Service Ahman Patigi Kaiama Popo-Igbonna Salaudeen Oyewale National Union Of Road Transport Workers Mustapha Akanbi Akorede

