By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
A group under the auspices of Women in Politics (WIP) have called for more women's participation and visibility in all elective and appointive positions in as the 2023 general elections.
The Forum stressed that women can excel like their male counterparts in governance. They appealed to the executive to ensure compliance with the 35 percent affirmative action in appointive positions into public office in Nigeria in conformity with the National Gender Policy and the Judgement of the Federal High Court recently delivered by Justice Donatus Okoronkwo.
Addressing newsmen last Thursday in Sokoto at the NUJ Press Center, the President, Women in Politics Forum, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, decried that only APM party, out of the 18 political parties displayed by the Independent National Electrical Commission (INEC) fielded a woman as it's presidential candidate.
Women In Politics is part of the Electoral Integrity and Accountability in Nigeria project funded by the Mac Arthur Foundation, implemented by WRAPA in partnership with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, 100 Women Lobby Group, and Elect Her organization.
Continuing, Barrister Ebere Ifendu said, "1,101 candidates are vying for the 109 Senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates contesting for the 469 legislative positions. An analysis of the candidates, according to gender, shows that there is only one (1) female candidate for the Presidential election.
''That of the APM which therefore represents just 2.77 percent of Presidential election candidates with no party fielding a female as the vice presidential candidate.
"For the Senate, out of 1,101 candidates vying for 109 Senatorial seats, 92 are women. (8.35 percent) while while 288 women are contrasting for House of Representatives out of the total 3,122 candidates. And this represents only 9.2 percent .
'"Cummultively, there are 381 women among the total 4, 259 contestants for the presidency, (presidential candidate and running mates) and the national Assembly seats. This represents 8.9 percent of the candidates".
Barrister Ifendu further charged the legislature to pass relevant laws that will promote women participation in politics, adding that nobody gets elected without the support of the women.
She also admonished the media to consistently project women in good light by giving them the desired visibility to communicate their visions and missions.
To the traditional, religious and community leaders, Barrister Ebere Ifendu appealed to them to be advocates, champions and drivers of women participation in politics from their various spaces
Collaborating the position of Barrister Ifendu, the State Coordinator of Mariya Tambuwal Development Initiative (MTDI), Hajiya Fatimah Khalid, appealed for change of orientation towards entrusting women with political positions in Sokoto State.
On her part, Hon (Hajiya) Ubaida Mohammed Bello, the Special Adviser to governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Human Rights, NGOs and Donor Agency, said consistent advocacy and orientation will enhance women participation in politics. NNL.
