Nigerian women politicians have unveiled an online resource portal for women seeking elective positions in the 2023 general elections.
During the unveiling of the project on Monday, tagged: ‘Nigerian Women Aspirants Website’, financed by an international human rights organization, the women politicians under the aegis of Women In Politics Forum, also said that the mode of party primaries was not enough to bring the needed change expected to be seen in the country’s political process.
The women said President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly must take electoral reforms seriously.
The President of Women In Politics Forum, and renowned gender activist, Ebere Ifendu, told Journalists that the time had come for women to use the 2023 election as a moment to right many wrongs such as marginalization and injustices against women.
She said, “We had high expectations that the Electoral Bill would have been assented to by the President, unfortunately, that did not happen. We are in support of direct primaries, where every registered party member participates to choose their flag bearers.
“This would have opened up the space and made it more inclusive of women, youth and persons with disability.
“Considering that the mode of primaries is not enough to discard the Electoral Bill, we, therefore, call on the National Assembly, on resumption, to make the necessary changes to the Bill and forward to the President for his assent.
“We also urge Mr President to assent to the amended Electoral Bill as soon as it is represented for his assent.
“The 2023 elections are crucial and will determine the future of our electoral process.”
She added, “Lots of speculation exists as to why there was a decline in the percentage of elected female officials as opposed to the increase experienced between the 2011 to 2015 period.
“In order to address this decline, several civil society organizations, including WIPF, implementing partners and donor organizations have set different innovative projects to reverse these downward trends.
“And as you are aware, candidates are already declaring interest to contest at various levels in the 2023 general polls, including women. So, the website is set to provide accurate data about women in the poll and to answer significant questions surrounding the increase or otherwise of women’s participation in the Nigerian political scene.”
The event was attended by many women including an aspirant for the Benue State House of Assembly and chairperson, League of Women Voters in Nigeria, Irene Awunah; Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi; Executive Director of 100 Women Lobby Group, Felicia Onibon and Executive Director of Payeodi, Jophia Gupar.
