By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Wednesday called for increased women participation in the forthcoming FCT six Area Councils Election coming up on 12 February,2022.
Making the call at a Town Hall Meeting with women groups and Gender Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, yesterday in Abuja, Director Gender Inclusivity , Blessing Obidegwu called for more women participation in the Area Council elections.
Obidegwu said that women constitute half of the nation’s population cannot be ignored because they form a critical mass of voters, noted that the equal participation of women and men in is a key principle of democracy while the place of gender equality in democracy cannot be over emphasized.
She said, “As at 2019 general elections, in FCT, 743,238 males and 601,618 females registered. While only 217,009 women voted on Election Day showing 36% voter turnout. This figure is too poor and we hope that in the upcoming FCT Area Council election, more women who have collected their PVC, will come out to vote.”
She noted that the Town hall meeting with women groups, CSOs with the support of the European Centre for Electoral Support , ECES, and other stakeholders was organized by INEC was aimed at strategizing ways of encouraging increased increased women participation in the FCT Area Council elections holding on Saturday 12th February, 2022.
She charged the women groups and gender focused CSOs, to strategize and facilitate the process of enabling the active participation of women identify challenges and ensuring that they are mitigated if not completely eliminated before Election Day.
We will try to reach out to the different strata of women for this election, especially the rural women as they inspite of all challenges,come out on election day to vote, Obidegwu promised.
Deputy Director INEC Gender Relations, Chika Osuji urged women in the FCT to vote
wisely with their voter’s card.
Osuji said,” the Commission intends to deploy Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) for this election in order to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.”
“Again , nobody without his/her permanent voters card (PVC) would be allowed to vote. It is hoped that you will keep your PVCs handy and be ready to use them to exercise your franchise.”
She noted that the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections are not just the business of the Commission alone but the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in the electoral process.
Deputy Project Coordinator European Center for Electoral Support, ECES, Manji Wilson promised that the Commission is ready to provide support for a free , fair and credible election in the FCT as he urged more women to come out to vote on the day.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ , FCT Chapter, Comrade Anna Daniel was optimistic that the Area Council election would have more women voters this time.
Daniel said, ” With the INEC’s readiness and security assurance in the FCT, this has given women more courage to turn out to cast their votes on 12 February , 2022 Area Council election.
My call to FCT women is for them to come out in their number to exercise their franchise because their participation matters on who they would choose to lead them, she said.
