As political parties gradually kick start their political campaigns, there are indications that the promises made by parties’ presidential candidates to give women visible opportunities in their government if elected may not materialise as expected.
There is growing apprehension in the camp of women, that those promises may not see the light of day, given the current level of alleged marginalisation they face in the parties.
Over the years, women had played great roles in motivating political parties to success, while others participated actively contesting for offices, including the Presidential elections.
Despite the promises made by the parties, the women are yet to be visible on their campaign train so far.
The podiums at campaign rallies are dominated by the men, as women voices are not heard in these rallies.
Even the women appointed as members of presidential campaign councils are not visible, unlike their male counterparts that are seen speaking on TV programmes on their candidates.
Observers say that beyond the inclusion of a number of women by some of the parties, that the women so-included must be seen to be playing visible roles, not to concern them to the roles of “wearing aso ebi” and other “side attractions.”
A public affairs analyst, Christy Adu, who spoke to BusinessDay, said that although it may be too early to draw conclusion on what the roles parties plan to assign the women in their campaign activities, it was needful however, important to begin to raise the alarm that politicians may be at their usual self despite lofty promises.
Adu said: “Every election cycle you hear politicians make all manner of promises. They always prey on the simplicity of women. They would promise heaven on earth and say a lot of lofty things, but at the end of the day, nothing happens. Where is the 30 percent affirmation for women? In November 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to give women 35 percent representation in his administration. The question to ask is, how far?
“I can’t remember exactly where we are or what happened to the push for the enforcement of the National Gender Policy in Nigeria as a means of addressing discrimination of women in politics and governance. Some time ago, Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) filed a suit against the government on this score.
“At that time, Funmi Falana, counsel for the group, argued that, ‘The predominant appointment of men to decision-making positions, especially ministerial positions, with the exclusion of women is discriminatory against women and is in violation of sections 147 and 42 of the Nigerian constitution and article 19 of the African charter.’”
She observed that “So far, it is only Ndi Kato of the Labour Party (LP) that has been seen doing so of all the women in other parties.”
Indeed, the situation is creating apprehension amongst the women folks who see the development as not a good sign that shows that the women will be given serious roles in government.
Over the years, women have been used only as singers and dancers at campaign rallies; it does not seem anything is changing despite promises to do things differently.
Only recently, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Women Leader, Stella Effah-Attoe raised the alarm over what she described as attempt to sideline her and the women group in the party, especially during the ongoing campaigns.
She declared that attempts had been made at undermining the office of the PDP National Women Leader.
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She revealed that “The most recent attempts were at the flag off ceremony of the PDP campaigns in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on October 10, 2022.
“Here, serious attempts were made to prevent me from addressing the PDP audience at the Uyo stadium. It must be stated here that it is a customary tradition in our party for the National Woman Leader and the National Youth Leader, to address rallies in conjunction with party candidates, party chairmen et al.
“Unfortunately, in Uyo, every attempt was made to prevent me from addressing party faithful. I was told that there was a clear directive not to allow me to speak to the crowd. It got to the ridiculous extent of these agents, calling on Uche Ekwunife, to speak to the audience, on behalf of PDP women.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on its part, said it has set machinery in motion for the execution of its campaign ahead of the 2023 general election and reach out to the various segments of the society, especially women who constitute a chunk of the voting populace, accounting for more than half of the over 12 million newly-registered voters.
The party has included reasonable number of women in its presidential campaign council inaugurated last Friday, and Chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Some women who hold key positions in the APC presidential campaign council include, Hadiza Bala, deputy director-general (Administration); Uju Kennedy, former presidential aspirant who is a vice chairman; Aishatu Binani, the sacked APC governorship candidate of Adamawa who is co-coordinator of the state; Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, minister of state, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), co-ordinator for the territory and Jumoke Oduwole, Adviser Economic Affairs.
Others are Beta Edu, APC National Woman Leader who is Adviser, Women Affairs; Stella Okotie, former acting women leader, Secretary Election Planning and Monitoring Directorate; Gbemisola Saraki, director of Trade and Economy (North); Patricia Etteh, former speaker of House of Representatives, Parliamentarian Director (South-west); Grace Bent, a former senator who is coordinator, stakeholders relations (special duties); Hanatu Musawa, deputy spokesperson; Maryam Abubakar, deputy director, Special Media Project/New media, while Joy Emordi, a former senator and Mayen Mbuk are also part of the campaign leaders.
Also, all female APC National Working Committee members, National Assembly members, ministers, former governors and deputy governors, serving members of the National Executive Committee, serving and former speakers and deputy speakers as well as principal officers of State Houses of Assembly, state chairmen and candidates for National and State Assemblies are members of the council.
Aside that, there is the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Team which has the
Nigeria’s first lady, Aisha Buhari was appointed the grand patron of the APC Women Campaign Council inaugurated before the main campaign council.
The wife of the presidential candidate, Oluremi Tinubu and that of the vice-presidential candidate, Nana Shettima are chairman and co-chairman respectively.
At the inauguration of the team two weeks ago, Aisha Buhari tasked women on ensuring massive mobilisation of the female folk to participate for the APC victory in the 2023 general election.
She said, since 2015, women have changed the pattern of election in Nigeria, noting that: “they have led to the success of our party in previous elections.
“We thank God as we meet to inaugurate the women’s presidential campaign team; while men are in the front of war women are the foot soldiers gearing the success of election.”
On her part, Remi Tinubu urged the women to ensure the victory of the party, saying: “You must deliver your polling units in 2023. We must convince the electorate that this is the man of the moment, the man to be elected.”
According to the APC Woman Leader, Betta Edu,
“2023 is a mandate we must deliver,” tasking women to work assiduously for APC’s victory.
Tari Oliver, the only female Presidential aspirant who contested the PDP Presidential election, in May, believes that the women will play active roles in the party’s campaigns.
Oliver, who noted that the women have important roles to play in the campaigns, assured that the women will not be pushed aside, adding that everything will be clearer by the end of the month.
According to her, “We will be as active as the party wants us to be. By the end of this month, the pictures will be clearer. Committees are still being set up.”
On the ongoing crises within her party, Oliver said the party would continue make efforts to reconcile the aggrieved persons within the party.
Oliver said the women are equally working hard to bring the warring factions together
“Everything has been very good, but because of the Wike issue, many of us have been playing our roles behind the scenes to restore unity in the party
Also contributing to the debate, Ladi Bala, the National President of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), blamed the current state of women in the parties on the failure of the National Assembly to enact the gender Bills that would have strengthened the position of the women.
Ladi Bala stated that the Bill was to have provided for special seats for women at National Assembly, allow for Affirmative action for women in political party administration and grant citizenship to foreign-born husbands of a Nigerian woman.
One of the Bills also sought to allocate 35 per cent of political positions based on appointment to women and creation of additional 111 seats in National Assembly as well as at the state constituent assemblies.
The Bill also sought for the inclusion of at least 10 per cent affirmative action in favour of women in ministerial appointments.
She also berated the National Assembly, for not considering the salient provisions in section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Articles 2, 3 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
According to her, “the marginalisation of women started with the structure of the political parties.
“They have been consigned to being used only to mobilise the crowd, to prepare and service refreshments, as well as provide entertainments for the guests. Why are they not taking active roles in deciding major decisions?
“These are what the gender bill wanted to correct,” she said
Bala also blamed what she described as “the over monetisation of the political process for the challenges facing the women in the parties.
“We all know that women cannot mobilise the much needed resources to compete with their male counterparts. But we must resist this over monetisation of the political process
“Until it is resisted, we cannot go anywhere. Their roles have been limited to mobilising the crowd, serving refreshments and providing entertainments. There should be something that shows that they are valued.
“Nigerian women are United and more resolute, but the monetisation of the political process have placed the women in a disadvantage position. Women don’t have the same financial muscle to compete.
“Women don’t have access to the cash. The Nigerian politics is highly capital intensive and it favours those that can buy their ways to the top.
She disclosed that the NAWOJ has concluded plans to extract a contractual obligation from the political parties ahead of the general elections that will ensure that women are taken care of after the elections
“We have begun a process tagged “A transiting nation and gender inclusivity,” we need to extract commitments from the leading Presidential candidates. We will extract this contractual agreement that will form the basis for other actions in favour of women, after the election,” she said
