BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
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Ahead of the 2027 general election in Nigeria, the South East zonal Woman leader of the Ruling All progressives Congress APC, Dr (Mrs). Oby Ajih, has urged state governors and other key men folk in the political space to give women of the zone the opportunity of contesting for various elective offices in their respective states.
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She said: “as we all known, the political party primaries and general elections are around the Conner, and we need to keep our women aspiring for various positions abreast with the barriers against women in the political space, and possible solutions”
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“What we are saying in a nutshell is that let there be an inclusive governance at all levels, women should be given chance to occupy certain elective and appointive offices. Apart from the reserve seat for women we are clamouring for, let the governor’s, including our amiable Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, do the needful in 2027 for women”
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She said women of the geopolitical zone are extremely intelligent and have the capacity to deliver the goods at any level of government if given the chances, adding that they are always disposed towards promoting good governance in the region and country in general.
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Speaking on Friday in Enugu during a one day workshop put together by her office in conjunction with a group, under the auspices of league of Women voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), South East chapter, Dr. Ajih, noted that since the advent of the ongoing democratic rule in Nigeria, the women folk, across the country have not been given fair treatment regarding occupation of elective and appointive offices.
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She posited that Nigerian women deserves opportunity to showcase the stuff they are made of in the nation’s political space.
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The South East APC Woman leader, explained that the purpose of the workshop with the theme: Breaking Barriers: ‘promoting women participation in politics and supporting good governance’ is to make the participants know about certain barriers that may constitute a cog in the wheel of progress of their political journey, and possible ways of overcoming such obstacles.
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“We want to let the women know that there are different Barriers against women in politics though, they are not insurmountable. As the South East zonal Woman Leader of the APC, we are going to do everything humanly possible to support and encourage any woman running for any elective position in 2027”.
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“So, this workshop is also for us to collaborate, discuss, and interact on how best we can support women in politics to overcome the barriers facing the women folk in the political arena “
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“Women have a lot to offer if giving the chance. Take for instance what is happening in Enugu state today, where all the agencies and sectors being manned by women are doing fantastically well.
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“NILOWV is not a political party, but a platform opened to every Nigerian woman who believes in promotion of good governance, and that is why we have people from Labour party, People’s Democratic party PDP, African Democratic party ADC All progressives Congress APC and others as members. That is why we keep preaching good governance in south East and Nigeria at large”
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As leaders of their respective political parties, Dr. Ajih, called on state governors to use their office in ensuring that women seeking elective offices gets the tickets of their respective political parties ahead of the primary elections.
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“So, why I called this meeting is because party primaries and 2027 election are around the corner, and it’s high time the men should also sing and clap for women during electioneering campaigns, advising women to also support their fellow women running for any political position.
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She assured that irrespective of background, religion, political party, or ethnicity, her office and the organization will give all the women in South East running for any position in 2027 100 percent support.
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Ajih. equally expressed the hope that the workshop will bring the group to political speed in the end.
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In a good will massage, Abia state chairperson of the organization and a senatorial Aspirant in 2027. Dr. Blessing Nwagbo, stated that the objective of the workshop is to make women know that they can be in the political space. We want to make women stop feeling that they are incapable or lack capacity.
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She identified some of the barriers militating against women active participation in politics to include, the anti women conduct of those she refered to as Party gatekeepers that keeps tickets in the hands of few men
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Another obstacle she mentioned, is the alarming Campaign costs that shuts out qualified women and violence against women during elections.
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Nwagbo, however, proffered some solutions to the barriers which includes adoption of 35 percent minimum for women in all elective and appointive positions, and fund them by political parties.
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Also, women should keep advocating for the passage of the reserved seats for women’s bill pending at that National Assembly NASS, adding that women should also back the law against political violence targeting women and demand it’s enforcement.
