The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders have charged women to be committed to 2023 elections.
The stakeholders said Nigeria has qualified women that can win elections, and the females will be given the opportunity to contest positions.
Speaking at the Women Aspirants Summit 2022 in Abuja yesterday, INEC’s Director of Gender and Inclusive Department Mrs Blessing Obidegwu said INEC would operate within creating a level-playing field for stakeholders, especially women, to participate in the electoral space.
Obidegwu who was represented by Habibat Abdulkareem Jato, stated that the commission as a gender responsive government institution, would support actions and advocacy to enhance the electoral system.
She said: “This is hinged on our belief that stakeholders’ collective actions will help tackle issues of monetisation of the electoral process, bribery, vote buying and selling, tracking of campaign finances and inadequate provisions to encourage greater participation of marginalised groups…in the promotion of a more inclusive process for sustainable democracy in Nigeria”.
Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio Adetoun Okewale, noting that the participation of women is fundamental to development of democracy, said Nigeria has a low representation of women in politics.
Okewale, one of the organisers of the summit, regretted the country has not had an elected female governor, vice president nor president.
She said: “We need to put our sentiments aside and commit to winning elections, to vote for women, campaign for women and fund the women.
“The full participation of women is fundamental to the development of our democracy”.
