Lara Adejoro Stakeholders on Wednesday called for the inclusion of more women in politics in the country as a step towards gender equity. They said for Nigeria to achieve 35 per cent Affirmative Action formulated by the National Gender Policy since 2006. The policy demands that 35 per cent of women be involved in all governance processes.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria in Abuja, themed, “Electoral integrity, accountability, and women’s inclusion,” the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu said though women inclusion in Nigerian politics had increased, it was still short of expectations. “In Nigeria’s journey toward a truly inclusive democracy, our shared commitment to electoral integrity and accountability is essential. Our country’s elections are a defining measure of our democracy’s health, and they are a critical arena for ensuring that every citizen, especially every woman, has a voice and a stake in governance.
“The 2023 elections in Nigeria marked both progress and challenges. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, over 93 million voters registered for the elections, with women constituting nearly half of the registered voters. This strong turnout underscores the commitment of Nigerian women to shape their nation’s future.
However, despite this, we still saw a stark gender imbalance in candidacy, with only about nine per cent of candidates in the 2023 elections being w.