Ahead of November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, a cross-section of women in the State have vowed to support any woman with firm capacity and fearless stance during the election.
The people said they were ready to drop political affiliation to ensure that a woman with good character and ability to lead is supported to lead the State in the next four years.
The women, under the auspices of Women Supporting Women (WSW), stated this when they stormed the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to purchase governorship nomination and expression of interest forms for the Kogi Central senatorial candidate of the party in the last general elections, Natasha Akpoti.
The group lamented that women had been relegated to the backstage in the politics of the state in particular and the country in general.
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Akpoti was the only woman in the state that contested with other men from different political parties to fight for the Kogi central senatorial seat.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the forms were presented by the SDP national organising secretary, Emeka Atuma, the leader of the group and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hajia Ummihani Otokiti, noted that the project of having a woman to lead the state is beyond political party affiliation.
Otokiti regretted that women were being relegated to the back seat despite their immense contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria, saying they were ready to go full length to achieve their aim of having a woman governor in Kogi state.
She expressed optimism that the SDP senatorial candidate would still reclaim what she described as ‘stolen mandate’ of Kogi central people.
The SDP national organising secretary expressed surprise over the decision of the women, saying he has not seen women contributing money to buy governorship forms for another woman.
According to him, Akpoti is strong and an enigma of hope, pointing out that, SDP is women-friendly and encourages women participation in politics.
He explained that this made the party to wave N10 million naira nomination fee, adding that the women will only pay for expression of interest form.
While responding, Akpoti appreciated the women for their strong belief in her vision, noting that she would consult stakeholders within and outside the state and get back to them.
“I am surprised by the nomination forms by the Women Support Women Organisation. I appreciate them and also understand the overwhelming task that lays ahead, that is why I told them to give me time so I can make some consultation with the stakeholders within and outside the state and get back to them in few weeks considering the time for the submission of forms”, she said.
On how she intends to change the narrative in a patriarchy society like Nigeria, Akpoti maintained that it has always been her dream to break into the patriarchy society like Nigeria.
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