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.
Kunbi Titiloye Orisun Igbomina Laduba Innocent Okoye Salau Kabiru Abdullahi Omoniyi M. Ayinla Gbugbu Oyedun Juliana Funke UNIFEMGA Titus Suberu-Ajibola Saka Onimago Earlyon Technologies Shoprite Rasheed Jimoh National Broadcasting Commission Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi BECE Emir Of Shonga Local Government Pension Board National Association Of Nigerian Students Mary Arinde Doyin Awoyale Sebastine Obasi Ambassador Kayode Laro Taofik Abdulkareem Unilorin FM Oyedepo NIRSAL Muhammadu Gobir Air Peace ASMAU PLAZA Esinrogunjo Muyideen Ajani Bello Yaru Ijagbo Health Centre Kolade Solagberu Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi NYSC Shero Haruna Tambiri Mohammed Yusuf AbdulRasheed Joseph Alex Offorjama Kisra Shuaib Olarongbe Naira Redesign Jare Olatundun Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir Odolaye Aremu Aliyu Salihu Taiwo Joseph Baba Issa Awoye Suleiman Idris Lanre Olosunde Saliu Ajibola Ajia Olatomiwa Williams KWSUED Onikijipa Idris Garuba Jimba Babatunde Bolakale Kawu Agaka Mutawali Of Ilorin Saka Adeyemo Oya State Falokun-Oja Chief Of Staff Babaita Yekeen Alabi Bola Magaji Bayo Onimago Abdulrahman Abdulrazak Mohammed Halidu Baboko Primary School Oke-opin Raliat Islamic Foundation Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ibrahim Bio Adesoye College

