A call has been issued in Nigeria to increase women’s participation in politics and electoral processes.
Bukola Idowu, Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, made the call on the sidelines of a Civil Society Organisations-Political party roundtable on Monday in Osogbo.
Idowu stated that the need to reawaken gender equality, particularly women’s political participation, has become critical in the best interests of Nigeria.
He said, that “the number of women in elective positions had decreased since the 2015 general elections, with only a few holding major positions.
”There is a reduction in elective offices with women in 2019 compared to 2015.
“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.”
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Evaluation of Women Capacity
Santiago Stocker, said, consolidating democracy in Nigeria requires the full participation of civil society organisations and political parties.
Stocker is the Resident Programme Director, International Republican Institute, IRI.
“There is a need for key stakeholders to take on collective responsibilities in channeling and redesigning the process of increasing full participation of women in politics,” Stocker maintained.
Ogunbela Labake, said, affirmative action is not domesticated in the country due to a lack of an adequate framework for more women participation in politics.
She is into Gender and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Labake said, it would be beneficial to domesticate a policy that would require political parties to offer a certain number of women in electoral positions.
Earlier, Reverend Father Peter Akinkunmi, Coordinator, Justice Development and Peace Marker Center, JDPMC in Osun State called for a thorough evaluation of the capacity of women in politics by building them and repositioning them for subsequent elections.
He said: ”Political figures weaponised culture and religion which in turn limits women in politics and elective positions.
“This is concerning and requires immediate attention”.
