NGOs, stakeholders call for increased participation of women in politics
A call has been made for an increase in Women’s participation in politics and electoral processes in Nigeria.
Bukola Idowu of Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, made the call on the sidelines of a Civil Society Organisations-Political party roundtable on Monday in Osogbo.
Idowu said the need to reawaken gender equality especially, women’s participation in politics has become paramount in the best interest of the country.
He said there has been a decline in the number of women in elective positions after the 2015 general elections with a few occupying major positions.
”There is a reduction in elective offices with women in 2019 compared to 2015 and presently the 2023 election further shows a decline in the numbers of women coming into elective positions.
”Stakeholders need to channel out solution-oriented programmes for full participation of women in elective political positions,” Idowu said.
Santiago Stocker, the Resident Programme Director, International Republican Institute, IRI, said consolidating democracy in Nigeria requires the full participation of civil society organisations and political parties.
“There is a need for collective responsibilities of key stakeholders in channelling and remodelling the process of increasing full participation of women in politics,” Stocker maintained.
Also, Ogunbela Labake, Gender and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said affirmative actions are not domesticated in the country due to a lack of adequate framework for more women participation in politics.
Labake said the need to domesticate a policy that would mandate political parties to present a particular number of women in elective positions would be of great advantage.
Earlier, Reverend Father Peter Akinkunmi, Coordinator, Justice Development and Peace Marker Center, JDPMC, Osun State called for a thorough evaluation of the capacity of women in politics by building them and repositioning them for subsequent elections.
”Political figures weaponised culture and religion which in turn limits women in politics and elective positions. This is worrisome and needs urgent attention.”
