The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerian women, especially pregnant women and people with disabilities of special treatment, during the forthcoming General Elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kwara State, Mr Attahiru Madami, gave the assurance in Ilorin on Wednesday (February 8, 2023) during a sensitisation workshop for women folk in the state.
Madami explained that women are critical stakeholders in the election, just like their male counterparts, saying that the commission had mapped out strategies to make voting convenient for Nigerian women.
He explained that arrangements have been concluded by the commission to accord Nigerian women with special treatment, during the voting exercise, such as having a separate queue from men, while pregnant ones among them would be allowed to vote within a short time and physically challenge would be considered on time.
According to him, we have planned and prepared for a violence free election, from the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC), educating and training of stakeholders on their roles and testing of BVAS machines during mock accreditation exercise among others.
Madami therefore advised women to cast their vote for candidates of their choice and refrain from vote buying and other related electoral malpractices in order not to mortgage their future and that of their children.
He said the commission decided to organise the programme for them to be well educated and informed about their expected roles before, during, and after the elections.
In her remarks, the Director of Federal Information in Kwara, Hajia Balikis Oladimeji, lauded INEC’s various people-centered initiatives, especially coming up with gender sensitive outing programme for the women folk in the country.
Mrs Oladimeji expressed optimism that the programme would create an avenue for women to express their challenges, especially on the issue of gender based violence, which can prevent women from coming out to vote.
She urged the commission to go further and make sure that gender based violence is abolished and ensure that their votes count.
The information Director however solicited more security during the election to protect and support the women to be able to perform their civic responsibility of voting for the candidates of their choice.
She advised women to vote for women of integrity during elections, as well as men with proven integrity that will not trample upon fundamental human rights of Nigerian women.
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