The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday called on women groups and gender-focused Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos to ensure the mobilisation of women for the forthcoming elections.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, made the plea at a town hall meeting with women groups and gender-focused CSOs on women’s participation in the 2023 general election in Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr Agbaje, represented by Gabriel Akanbi, INEC’s Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring, said women’s participation in elections remained significant for inclusivity.

“Women have essential roles to play for the achievement of the commission’s objectives for a violence-free and all-inclusive election on February 25 when the presidential and National Assembly election will take place, as well as on March 11 when the governorship and state assembly election will be conducted.

“It is strongly believed that you all will do everything necessary to get the commission’s message across to your respective communities,” he said.

Mr Agbaje said the meeting was to sensitise and work with women in politics, the market women and other categories of women, given their crucial roles and responsibilities in stabilising society.

“At this critical point where all hands must be on deck, our women need to do more in political participation to ensure the accomplishment of our common goal of a free, fair, inclusive, credible, inclusive and acceptable election.

“Women constitute about 49.8 per cent of Nigeria’s estimated population of about 218 million.

“There is no gainsaying that the women population is quite significant in voters turn-out in successive elections and sundry electoral activities, particularly since the beginning of the Fourth Republic,” he added.

Mr Agbaje said it was in recognition of this that INEC had indicated measures to ensure that women’s right to free and fair participation in the electoral process was protected, secured and preserved.

In her remarks, Adenike Tadese, INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, said that the commission’s Gender and Inclusivity Department would continue to sensitise women, promote gender mainstreaming and enhance the engagement and active participation of women.

Ms Tadese noted that 6,707,451 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected before the deadline out of 7, 637,402 PVCs received in the state between 2011 and 2023.

“The commission will continue to engage critical stakeholders for collaboration, provision of security and a peaceful environment for the elections to take place and more importantly to ensure massive turnout for the elections.

“INEC has put in place certain mechanisms and policies to ensure an all-inclusive participation to deliver a free, fair, transparent and credible 2023 general election to Nigerians,” she said.

Speaking, Waheed Ishola, the Lagos State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), said all hands must be on deck to have free and fair elections.

Also, Agnes Fasesin, the secretary, National Council of Women’s Societies, Nigeria (NCWS), said women, when properly educated, were strategic in mobilising and creating awareness in various communities in all issues of national importance, like a free and fair election.

The event had representatives from YIAGA Africa, Women Law Development Centre, Nigeria, Coalition of Professional Women in Politics and the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN). 

(NAN)