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.
Ibrahim Oniye Alliance For Democracy Alore Bukola Saraki Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies Oluranti Idowu Olatunde Michaels Rotimi Atere Umar Ayinla Saro Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin Clement Yomi Adeboye Cornelius Adebayo 11th Galadima NULGE Baruba Balogun Gambari Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations Adegoke Bamidele Kola Olota Saka Asiat Ayinke Muftau Akanbi Oke Adisa Logun Bayer AG Taofik Abiodun Ahmed Fatai Olodo All Peoples Party Abdulmumini Jawondo Rebecca Bake Ademola Kiyesola Oke-Ode Kwara State Football Association Mumeen Lah Ejidongari Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke Ambassador Kayode Laro Forgo Battery Company Limited Aishat Sulu-Gambari Abdulrasheed Akogun Lotus Bank Farouk Salim Opaleke Bukola Iyabo Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory Yomi Adeboye Doyin Agbamu Earlyon Technologies Adaramaja Abdulrazaq Magaji Federal Polytechnic Offa TESCOM 2025 Pius Abioje Talaka Parapo CELF Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Toyin Abdullahi Prince Bola Ajibola Mahee Abdulkadir Abdulahi Abubakar Bata Yashikira Shao Oro Grammar School Adekunle David Dunmade Gbemisola Oguntimehin ER-KANG Mining Bashir Badawi Kale Bayero Razaq Atunwa Shonga Farm Project Magaji Are Bello Bature Ahmed Alhasssan Bature Bello Wahab Isa Elesie Of Esie Bahago JUSUN

