A non-governmental organisation, Community Action for Popular Participation, has called on women in Plateau to contest elective positions in the forthcoming local government elections on Feb. 17.
Acting Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Nelson Ananze, threw the challenge at a one-day forum it organised on Saturday in Jos in an event entitled “Women in Politics Interactive Forum and Capacity Development’’.
According Ananze, the forum is to galvanise and mobilise support that would stimulate women to participate actively in politics.
“For too long, women have been suffering marginalisation and exclusion from the political process.
“But we feel there should be an all inclusive political process where women, youths and people living with disabilities can be giving equal opportunity.
“Women contribute a lot towards the development of the electoral process, unfortunately, when it comes to aspiring for elective positions they are made to take the back bench; they are often relegated.
“So, we are here today to sensitise, motivate and ginger women on the Plateau, not to only passively participate but vie for elective positions in the forthcoming local government elections in the state,’’ he said.
He further explained that his organisation had sensitised rural women through its “Women Political Mentor’s Tour’’, aimed at educating them on the need to support other women succeed in politics.
NAN also reports that the event which drew participants from six local government areas of the state was supported by Actionaid Nigeria, BBC news Media and UKaid.
