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.
Timothy Olatunde Fadipe Centre For Digital Economy Aishat Mohammed Lawal Salary Dele Belgore Moremi High School Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye Kazeem Oladepo Kunle Akogun Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency Mohammed Haruna Sherif Shagaya FERMA Just Law Forum Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development AGILE Programme Kwara Odo-Owa Mohammed Alabi Lawal Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye Ijagbo Health Centre Chikanda Gbugbu International Market Kwara University Of Education Kwara 2019 Raheem Adaramaja Yusuf Abubakar Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla Yakubu Gobir Ishola Balogun Fulani Democracy Day Nigeria Governors\' Forum Ayeyemi Sulaiman Jamiu Oyawoye Yakubu Dogara IESA Unilorin FM Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman Yakub Lai Gobir Kayode Ishola Joseph Offorjama Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Lola Olabayo Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Isiaka Yusuf Sunset Workers Marufat Oladosu Congress For National Consensus Michael Nzekwe Michael Ologundea University Road Vishvas KOZ Tractors Ibrahim Agboola Gambari Ilorin Amusement Park Ilesha Gwanara Road Nnazua Albert Ogunsola Hijab Tafida Oluranti Idowu Afonja Suwa-Arabs Mustapha Akanbi Arinola Lawal Adesoye Yahaya Oloriegbe Mahmud Ayinla Giwa John Olobayo Kazeem Adekanye Abubakar Kawu Baraje James Kolo Kisira Reuben Paraje Ibrahim Oloriegbe Onilorin Of Ilorin

