Ene Oshaba
The 100 Women Lobby Group, has called on women to participate fully in the 2023 election, urging them not to allow the current occurences to discourage them from voting.
Its National Coordinator Felicia Onibon gave the advise Wednesday at a press conference tagged “women’s participation in elections, electoral integrity and accountability” organized by the group in Abuja.
Onibon called on all citizens who have their PVC to endeavour to go out and vote on election day for women and persons who will support women in their politically held positions of leadership.
She noted the gross gender gap between men and women especially in political representation, economic management, education and leadership, lamenting that women are particularly underrepresented in processes and disproportionately excluded from consultations that affect them.
She maintained that this year is vital for advancing all goals for transformation, development agenda must prioritize Gender Equality and women`s empowerment, stressing the need for women to work together to empower women and expand opportunities in politics, business and beyond.
“We must back up our results with resources because we know investments in Gender Equity yields returns across society.
“We must all come out in our numbers and support the women who are contesting elections, and in cases where there is no women contesting for a particular seat, please support the men that will have women’s interest in top priority and work towards fulfilling these interests.
” I want to encourage Nigerian women not to be dismayed by recent occurrences, instead let these occurrences be a motivation to demand the changes we desire for Nigeria in the coming elections.
“Women`s voice and full participation is central to enhancing societal development. It is my firm conviction that women must be involved in decision making at all levels and strategic directions towards a better world.
“We must do our part to break the barriers to women inclusion thereby creating opportunities, as this would be a powerful tool towards moving from Gender Inequality to Gender Justice,” she stressed.
She also expressed concerns on recent researches and surveys which shows that some of the prevailing factors that has prevented or hindered women from participating in electoral processes are Gender-based violence Gender discrimination Lack of Economic, financial and social empowerment, Lack of security, Lack of political support and gender-based violence against women in politics is another intrinsic factor.
“Recalling the case of late Victoria Chintex, the Kaduna state labour party women leader who was gruesomely murdered in her home and the late Salome Abuh the Kogi state PDP women leader who was also killed in Kogi State shows that there is a prevailing rate of violence against women in politics and we can’t just fold our arms and let our women go through this alone.
“Hence, we call for men to support women participation in elections and to hold electoral positions. We also call for women to come out and vote despite these insufficiencies faced, we also need the support of various CSO’s to push this cause of politically and economically empowering our women to enable them play on a level plain ground as the men,” she stated.
“It’s appalling that women representation in Nigeria is 4.1% which is the lowest in the entire African continent, despite having women population of 50% and above of the Nigerian’s total population. The 2019 elections in Nigeria recorded a poor performance by women. This further led to a reduction in the number of women representing the interests of Nigerian citizens in parliament.
“This 2023 elections cannot bear the same fate, for this forth coming election we plead that all security personnels should mount various positions in the country, not just during the elections, but pre and post-election period to enable citizens carry out their right and duty to vote, to ensure that this election is peaceful, free and fair,” she added.
In her remarks, the Asst. Director Women Development Department at the ministry of women affairs Victoria Lar, also urged women to endeavour to go cast their votes and vote in the right candidates that will bring the needed change .
Also in her remarks, Jerry Grace of Inclusive Friends lamented the escrutiating effects of the CBN policy and fuel scarcity on Women with Disabilities , she however urged them to not be discouraged but vote in the coming elections.