The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) in Adamawa has urged Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and other political leaders to address the exclusion of women from political representation in the state.

The state coordinator of NCWS, Rebecca Kwabe, made the appeal on Saturday in Yola.

Ms Kwabe commended Mr Fintiri for appointing women into leadership positions across the state, including a female deputy governor and female vice-chairpersons in the 21 local government areas.

She also appreciated the governor over the emergence of two female candidates for the House of Representatives during the recently concluded APC primaries.

The NCWS coordinator, however, expressed concern over the declining number of women occupying elective political offices in the state.

“We once had three female senators from Adamawa, but today the situation is different. None of the six women who contested the recent APC primaries for the State House of Assembly emerged as candidates,” she said.

Ms Kwabe appealed to political leaders, husbands and youths to support fairness, equity and increased participation of women in governance.

According to her, women play significant roles in nation-building and deserve adequate representation in political offices and decision-making processes.

She urged political stakeholders to create more opportunities for women, particularly at the state assembly and local government levels.

Also speaking, Adamawa Coordinator for Reserved Seats Advocacy, Arziki Sawa, commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting women inclusion initiatives.

Ms Sawa said the proposed reserved seats bill before the National Assembly would improve women’s participation in politics if passed into law.

According to her, the sponsorship of the bill by a male lawmaker reflects growing support for the “He for She” campaign.

She appealed to members of the National Assembly to support and pass the bill before the end of their tenure.

Ms Sawa encouraged women not to be discouraged by political challenges and exclusion, urging them to continue contesting elective positions.

Similarly, an aspirant for the Adamawa House of Assembly seat representing Guyuk Constituency, Jumai Windibiziri, appealed to relevant authorities to address grievances arising from the APC primaries.

Ms Windibiziri said women aspirants felt unfairly treated, as none of the six female contestants emerged as candidates during the recently concluded primaries.

She said that women had come together to seek intervention from relevant authorities, alleging that female aspirants were unfairly treated during the process.

(NAN)