By Wumi Oyehan
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the President of Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu, has encouraged Nigerian women to come out and vote, and also be ready to protect their votes at all costs.
She stated this in Abuja, at the NILOWV @30 Multistakeholders Summit organized by League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), at commemoration of their 30th anniversary.
With the theme, ‘Thirty Years Strong: Empowering Women’s Voice, Leadership and Democratic Participation — Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future.’.
She noted in her address at the occasion that, it is unacceptable that only few women contest for elective positions in Nigeria and most of them do not win elections but in the forthcoming election the only way to support a fellow gender is to protect the votes.
According to her, “I won’t encourage anybody to do things outside what the electoral law says but for NILOWV, we are going to protect our votes. We will vote and wait and allow our votes to be counted, we are going to work with NILOWV to ensure our votes are protected and monitored.”
Founder and Board of Trustees Chairperson, League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), Dame Esther Uduehi, in her address reiterated the commitment of NILOWV in advocating for women’s political participation, voter education, grassroots mobilisation, leadership development and affirmative action, including the Special Seats Bill for Women.
She said, “Our belief is that democracy becomes stronger when women participate meaningfully, not merely as voters, but as leaders, legislators, policymakers and decision-makers.”
Uduehi, therefore, appealed to the government institutions, development partners, the private sector, political parties, and civil society organisations (CSOs) to move beyond statements of support and build a practical partnership for women’s political inclusion.
National Chairman, Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, in his goodwill message said it is imperative to, improve women’s representation, by encouraging more women to contest.
”It requires political parties to reform the rules, incentives and practices that determine access to political power. Women’s participation is not a favour to be granted by party leaders. It is a democratic imperative and a matter of fairness, institutional quality and inclusive development.
”Women are not a single-interest group; they are citizens, professionals, farmers, entrepreneurs, workers, caregivers, community leaders and public servants. Their experiences and priorities must inform decisions across the entire policy spectrum.
”Women must be represented meaningfully in party leadership, decision-making committees, delegate structures and candidate-selection processes, not merely invited to attend meetings after decisions have been made. And parties should move from symbolic support to practical support,” he added.