….Calls for institutionalisation of a multi-stakeholder approach towards encouraging the participation of more female electorates and citizens to exercise their franchise at subsequent elections
…Recommends that voters register needs to be cleaned up by INEC to enable the country have an accurate number of truly registered voters
…Says security agencies should continually adhere to principles of impartiality and neutrality toward securing the polls
…Urges elected leaders to be magnanimous in victory and improve participation of women at all levels of governance
…Appeals to the Media to remain professional, neutral and non-partisan in the discharge of duties
By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – FIDA Nigeria has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to establish the Electoral Offences Commission to facilitate the prosecution of electoral offenders observed to have committed all forms of electoral offences in contravention to the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which will serve as deterrent to other intending offenders.
The Women group also advised the INEC to institutionalize a multi-stakeholder approach towards encouraging the participation of more female electorates and citizens in general to exercise their franchise at subsequent elections.
FIDA also recommended the cleaning up of the voters register by the electoral umpire to enable the country have an accurate number of truly registered voters.
Similarly, it tasked security agencies to continually adhere to the principles of impartiality and neutrality toward securing the polls which will help in mitigating electoral violence especially those perpetuated against women in elections.
It also urged the elected leaders across the federation to be magnanimous in victory and improve participation of women at all levels of governance.
FIDA Nigeria charged the Media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm to remain professional, neutral and non-partisan in the discharge of their duties.
These were the recommendations of FIDA NIgeria to the various stakeholders and relevant actors towards deepening the democratic process in Nigeria ahead of subsequent elections by the
Country Vice President/National President, Mrs Amina Agbaje during the post-election press briefing on the governorship and state House of Assembly elections held in FIDA Area 2, Abuja office.
Mrs Agbaje, on behalf of FIDA Nigeria, also commended the eligible voters and all women that participated actively in the process for their commitment and belief in the electoral system. She also congratulated the women who emerged as winners in their respective state constituencies at the polls especially the 26year old female journalist Rukayat Shittu who won a legislative seat at Owode/Onire constituency in Asa LGA Kwara State. Mrs. Happiness Akawu of Plateau State who emerged winner and now representing Pengana from Bassa LGA., and Ms. Comfort Amwe who was re-elected to represent Sanga constituency in Kaduna State House of Assembly. Amina while celebrating these women said she hopes that this serves as an impetus for more and effective representation of women in subsequent elections.
Sundiata Post recalls that FIDA Nigeria through her situation room situated at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, the Nigeria Capital observed the participation of women in the elections alongside other forms of violence perpetrated against women across four focal states namely; namely Plateau, Borno, Kaduna and Kwara States.
FIDA Nigeria’s observations demonstrated that the election was an improvement from the Presidential & National Assembly Elections as they witnessed early arrival of electoral materials and officials which culminated in early commencement of polls, effective transmission of results from the polling units to the INEC Result Viewing portal, improved deployment of security personnel to hotspot areas amongst others.
However, despite these improvement, FIDA said it observed shortcomings relating to vote trading and voters apathy which affected women participation at the polls.
on the secrecy of the ballot, FIDA Nigeria observed that in about 96.2% of polling units, women exercised their franchise freely, while 59% of female voters exercised their franchise in secrecy without interference from party agents. FIDA observers also reported that the ballot process was transparent and fair in about 94.9% of the polling units, while 97.1% of female voters found their names on the voters register.
As concerns reported incidences of violence perpetrated against women, FIDA Nigeria said it observed little incidence of patriarchal, physical and other forms of violence perpetrated against women in 7.1% polling units within their observation in focal states and across the country. This violence was perpetrated against 11.1 % of women politicians and party agents, while 2.9% of women were observed instigating or promoting violence in the polling units under their observatory. For instance at the Kaduna State collation center for Sanga House of Assembly Constituency, INEC Officials were observed being intimidated and threatened towards declaring a woman as winner of that constituency.
Regarding turnout of female voters, FIDA Nigeria observed turnout of female voters in about 57.2% of the polling units observed. This is comparatively low compared to the Presidential/National Assembly Elections where they experienced a turnout of women amounting to 66.2%. For instance at polling unit 004, ward 05, Jos South, Plateau State, very few women were observed exercising their franchise. Similar incidences occurred at polling unit 027, tudun-wada, Zaria LGA, Kaduna State and polling unit 006, ward 02, Kaiama LGA, Kwara State.
Recall that FIDA Nigeria with support from UNWomen and the Government of Canada under Advance Women Political Participation Project observed the participation of women alongside forms of violence perpetrated against women in the 2023 General Elections through her 77 INEC accredited observers deployed across 66 polling units in the aforementioned four focal States.
