Gender representation in the party’s constitution, organization, and participation has been sought by women in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They also advocated for the use of a direct primary to elect party officers and candidates, claiming that the indirect primary alternative did not represent the true will of the people.
Dame Pauline Tallen, the Minister of Women Affairs, made the demands on behalf of female party members while speaking to reporters at the National Secretariat in Abuja shortly after sending a memorandum to the party’s Constitution Review Committee.
“Women are worried about the shortage of women in the party system. We’ve come to demand that the amendment be made. As you may be aware, the party formed a committee to amend its constitution last week. We swung into action as soon as we learned of the Committee’s formation. We were the first and we all accept that we are the most disadvantaged. And that is unacceptably detrimental to the country’s growth.
“We’ve come to demand affirmative action,” says the group. More women are needed in the party system, as well as in all elections. We demand that no group, men or women, can account for more than 60% of the population. Gender equality is something we’re struggling for. Women’s complete participation and representation in party structures, as well as all elective seats, are demands in our dear country Nigeria.”
The Minister, who was flanked by other women, claimed that the country will not achieve the desired national development unless the disparity is tackled.
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She acknowledged that Nigeria serves as a role model for the African continent, but lamented that the country lacked true representation of women in political parties and elective positions at all levels, from the national to the ward level.
The Minister also expressed her frustration with the skewed nature of delegate elections, which she described as undemocratic and a roadblock to women in politics achieving their political ambitions.
“We are claiming that delegates are not democratically elected. We are calling for free and fair elections. Direct primaries (option A4) That is a more democratic approach. That is how you will be able to find the real people’s representative. We are not afraid to run for office. We’d like to see a level playing field. Women do not have the financial resources that men do to purchase delegates.”
Tallen led a high-level women’s delegation to the APC Constitution Review Committee, where they sent a memorandum detailing demands for affirmative action.
Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, Chairman of the APC Constitution Review Committee, received the memorandum.
Comfort Lamptey, UN Country Representative; Hon. Aisha Duku, Chair, House Committee on Electoral Matters; and representatives from the 100 Women Lobby Group and other Civil Society Organizations accompanied the Minister.
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