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.
Hikmah AbdulKareem Sola Saraki Educational Foundation Okin Biscuits Oba Abdulraheem Isiaka Rafiu Mope Joseph Daudu Yahaya Abdulkareem Ike Ekweremadu Oyun NIRSAL Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa Gbenga Adebayo Taofik Mustapha Ajakaye Suleman Abubakar Abubakar Kawu Baraje Magaji Nda Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa Olawuyi MINILS Ajibola Saliu Ajia Face Masks Saad Omo Iya Saka Abimbola Isau Sabitiyu Grillo Oke-Ero NaAllah Abdullahi G. Mohammad Balogun Ajikobi Emir Of Kano Issa Oloruntogun Kazeem Oladepo Alagbado Christopher Odetunde Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu Shoprite Aro Yahaya Saudat Abdulbaqi Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa NITDA Kamaldeen Kehinde Damilola Yusuf Adelodun Oloye Elerin Of Erin-Ile Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim Salami Adekunle Ahmad Uthman Yakubu Dogara Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants KwaraLearn Bahago Wahab Isa Razaq Atunwa David Oyepinola Adedumoye Olatunji Ibrahim Oko Erin Noah Yusuf Post-utme Bamikole Omishore Baba Adini Of Kwara State Valsolar Consultoria Femi Ogunsola Christopher Tunji Ayeni Binta Sulyman Kwara Polytechnic Ilorin Innovation Hub Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi Muritala Awodun Apaola Aishatu Ahmed Gobir Bilikisu Gambari Yahaya Muhammad Yemi Osinbajo Kwara 2023 Ibrahim Labaika Muyideen Ajani Bello Government High School (GHS), Adeta

