By Ene Oshaba
As preparations are being made to inaugurate the 10th National Assembly (NASS), Women in Politics Forum (WiPF) has charged political parties with elected members in parliament to ‘be intentionally gender inclusive, mainstream and consider gender as a neccessary factor when zoning principal offices.
National President of WiPF Ebere Ifendu, while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja also called for the provisions of the National Gender Policy (NGP) approved by the federal executive council to be upheld.
Ifendu particularly called on the All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) with higher representation in the parliament to ensure that they mainstream gender as a major requirement in getting principal officers elected.
“That political parties be primarily gender inclusive and ensure that whatever zoning ratio is adoptedin the party converning the principal offices, should favour the female members elect of the 10th National Assembly.
“That political parties give full support to female members elect from their parties that will be contesting for principal office in the legislative arm of government.
“That male members elect in the 10th assembly give full support to their female colleagues seeking to run for principal office and female members be given chairmanship of key committees,” she stated.
The WiPF President noted that the 78 women elected into various offices accross Nigeria in the just concluded general elections is victory well deserved, assuring of support to women who have headed to the courts to uphold their mandates.
She recalled the judgement on the implementation of the NGP which was granted in favour of women by Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court on April 6th, 2022.
“Women in Politics Forum together with her partners, call for this judgement to be honoured and evidenced in the constitution of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly, Ministerial and other appointive positions.
“As April 15th draws near, we are particularly interested in the elections as we look to adding more women to the numbers of female candidates successfully elected,” she added.