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.
Kupchi Hosea Maxwell Kaosarah Adeyi Musa Alhassan Buge Abubakar Baba Sulaiman African Democratic Congress Lanwa Prince Mahe Abdulkadir Government High School Adeta Suleiman Alege Kuranga Kwara State Television Ubandoma Offa Metropolitan Club Harmony Holdings Kwara Consultative Forum Saheed Alakoso Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu Isiaka Danmeromu Tunji Olawuyi Olohungbebe Kayode Oyin Zubair NIPOGA Emir Of Yashikira Yahaya A Paniyaro Dasuki Belgore Mohammed Haruna Christopher Tunji Ayeni Oke-Ero Taofik Abiodun Ahmed Kawu Baraje Chikanda Prince Sunday Fagbemi Senate Presidency Femtech Raliat Elelu-Habeeb Valsolar Consortium Taibat Ayinke Ahmed Biliaminu Aliu Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa Magaji Erubu Albert Ogunsola Agor Market SUBEB Mike Omotosho Musbau A. Akanji First Lady Abdulazeez Uthman Elerin Of Erin-Ile Rasheed Jimoh Salmon Babatunde Salmon Mohammed Alabi Lawal Kwarareports Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu Kpotum Mohammed Baba Gbenga Olawepo Olayinka Olaogun Admiralty Villa College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Segun Olawoyin Kale Belgore Oya State Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs Musibau Akanji TESCOM 2025 Yoonus Lawal Gambari Sulyman Buhari Oni Adebayo Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem V.O. Abioye Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola Alliance For Democracy Yusuf Amuda Abubakar Tsaragi/Share

