NCWS urges Fintiri to address exclusion of Women in Adamawa politics

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

Rebecca Kwabe, Adamawa State coordinator of NCWS, made the appeal during an advocacy engagement on women inclusion in politics on Friday in Yola.

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

Kwabe, 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 recent APC primaries for the state assembly emerged as candidates,” she lamented.

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

She said that women played significant roles in nation building and deserved adequate representation in political offices and decision-making processes.

Kwabe urged political stakeholders to create more opportunities for women, especially at state assembly and local government levels.

Arziki Sawa, Adamawa coordinator for Reserved Seats Advocacy, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting women inclusion initiatives.

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

According to her, the sponsorship of the bill by a male lawmaker reflected 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.

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

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

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

She said that the women had come together to seek intervention from concerned authorities, alleging that injustice was done to female aspirants during the process.