Kwara LG polls: Female political stakeholders lament exclusion of women

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 organizations in the state, led by the Executive Director of Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV), Mrs. Tosin Apiriola-Ajayi, said that the presence of women in political offices has remained disproportionately low, despite the fact that women constitute a significant portion of the electorate.

The group, which accused political parties of playing a pivotal role in the development, said that political parties often perpetuate traditional gender roles and fail to provide equal opportunities for women candidates.

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“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.”