No be small talk wey dey happen for Kogi State as stakeholders don gather body together to find solution to the wahala wey dey limit women for politics. Dem no wan make electoral violence and cultural barriers chop women from political participation ahead of 2027 elections.
Last Thursday, na state-level forum wey involve NGO wey dey run the show, political parties, religious leaders and civil society actors come gather for one gist wey matter plenty. Dem come agree say dem go work together to make sure say women fit dey involved for politics without fear or shame.
As dem dey yarn, dem identify wahala wey dey show for ground like violence, dey stigmatise women, and the plenty cultural norms wey dey oppress women if dem wan participate for elections. Dem stress say this issues dey need serious attention before 2027 elections go land. Na Challenged Parenthood Initiative and Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room dey run the program, thanks to UK International Development support.
Mrs. Eunice Abimbola Agbogun wey be Executive Director of CPI talk say the whole project na to help women sabi electoral laws and engage well with electoral body. She talk say even though constitution don promise equal chance for women, dem still dey face barriers as dem dey try enter politics.
She also make us sabi say from July 2025 to February 2026, dem go run the initiative wey go help women get better understanding of electoral laws, and how to connect with INEC and political parties. Na real talk she talk, say while national level dey see some progress, for state level, women dem still dey under-represented.
Hamza Aliyu, wey be the Chairman of Kogi NGO Network, come yan say dem need sharp strategies to make real change happen for women political inclusion. He talk say political parties suppose design policies wey go help women come forward and gree for elective positions. No be by mouth alone o!
Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Mrs. Comfort Ojoma Egwuaba, praise CPI for the timely forum and point say na implementation of policies dem need, not just to dey talk am. She emphasize say wey we go fit change the mindset wey dey stop women from politicking.
INEC representative wey come speak for the event, talk say all dem need collective effort to make sure women, youths, and PWDs dey included for electoral system. Alhaji Mamman Nda Eri, Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Chairman, talk say dis na one big step for democratic development. He express hope say the rich talk go lead to serious shake-up wey go empower women for politics.
Religious leaders and IPAC don offer their support too, dem dey chook mouth for this matter wey concern women. The whole gist for the forum end as all of dem commit to do more advocacy, promote peaceful elections and make sure women dey part of everything wey concern Kogi State politics before 2027. Na so dem plan am!
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