Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the KOWA Party, have
pledged to offer free nomination tickets to women who declare interest
to run for any elective position in their parties.
Specifically, KOWA party added that the free nomination form would
also be made available to youths and women alike who are between the
ages of 18 to 35 years to run for any position nationwide.
This was disclosed by the State Secretary of APC in Ebonyi State,
Pastor Victor Elem Nnali, and the State Woman Leader of KOWA, Comrade
Adibe-Nwafor Jenifer at a one day workshop tagged: “Ebonyi Party
Engagement with Marginalized Groups” organized by the International
Republican Institute (IRI) with the support of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) at Monabliss Hotels and
Suites, Abakaliki.
This was even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
political parties and Civil Society Organization (CSOs) also stressed
the need for women, youths, People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs)
and other marginalized section of the society to be allowed to
participate in party politics during the 2019 general election. The
representatives of these groups made their position known at the above
stated event.
Addressing the participants who were drawn from various political
parties across the 13 local government areas of the State, the
Resident Programme Officer of IRI, Husan Hassan, stated that the
essence of the workshop was to place responsibility on political
parties towards ensuring that they include women, youths and disabled
individuals in governance and running of party affairs.
Hassan called on political parties to go beyond the outcome of
elections and connect with the citizenry through the implementation of
constituency programmes and projects that would better the lot of the
people.
According to her, marginalized segments of the society should be
allowed to occupy executive positions in all the party structures to
enable them make meaningful contribution to the growth of democracy.
Gender Desk officer for INEC in the state, Mrs. Idam Esther, stated
that the Commission had stressed the need for women to be allowed to
actively participate in politics, disclosing that further that INEC
was working hard to ensure that the election in 2019 is all inclusive.
“INEC is saying that women should be active in politics; there is need
for women, youths and disabled to be included both in election and
decisions within the party”, she said.
Delivering a paper on the topic: “Improving the participation of
marginalized groups in political party processes”, the Programme
Officer of IRI, Mr Sunday Alao, enjoined political parties “to create
platforms within their parties where issues surrounding the welfare
and political future of the youths and women are discussed and
enforced so that they can be carried along in active politics.”
Alao called on the marginalized groups to take the opportunities
provided by political parties and get involved in party affairs so
that they can emerge as flag bearers of their parties in the nation’s
elections starting with the 2019 polls. ENDSx
