Edo, Ondo Women Push for 35% Appointive Positions from Incoming Governors

As Governor-elect of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo awaits his official swearing-in, women leaders in the state have urged him to lead by example and ensure that 35% of his appointive positions are allotted to competent women of character and capacity. Having won the recent elections, one of the major expectations from women in the state […]

As Governor-elect of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo awaits his official swearing-in, women leaders in the state have urged him to lead by example and ensure that 35% of his appointive positions are allotted to competent women of character and capacity.

Having won the recent elections, one of the major expectations from women in the state is that the composition of his government reflects the unique attributes of women for the benefit of the state.

Meeting this demand would be a significant step towards implementing the landmark High Court judgment that ordered the Federal Government to allocate 35% of appointive positions to Nigerian women.

The advocacy for this affirmative action, led by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and other civil society groups, has remained in the front burner of political discourse since the court’s pronouncement in April 2022.

Speaking after the Edo governorship elections, the immediate past president of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations, Abiola Daisy Igaga, emphasized that the Governor-elect must prioritize capacity and reject any form of gender discrimination.

She stated, “We must also evaluate political appointments based on the mental acumen and intellectual qualifications of those selected for cabinet positions or other appointments.”

Ms. Igaga, who is also the Chairperson of the Edo State Civil Society Situation Room and CEO of Take A Cue Development Initiative, played a crucial role in promoting women’s participation in the recent elections. In this context, she called on women in the state to prepare themselves and be bold enough to pursue both appointive and elective positions.

“We have encouraged governments at all levels to increase the quota of women in political office, insisting that at least 35% of appointments should go to women in cabinet and other political roles,” she added.

Similarly, in Ondo State, despite the absence of any female gubernatorial candidates for the upcoming elections, key stakeholders are consistently mobilizing to promote women’s political participation in the state.

The Chief Executive Officer of Restoration of the Dignity of Womanhood, Olabisi Omolona, stated that women in the state are actively ensuring that the incoming administration is gender-inclusive.

She said, “You can feel the pulse of women in every community, supporting campaigns for the upcoming governorship elections.

”Mrs. Omolona, expressed optimism that the incoming administration will recognize the role of women in the political process by reserving 35% of appointive positions for them.

“As an advocate for women’s political participation in the state, we are engaging with the government to increase leadership opportunities for women,” she said.

She added that, “With the current level of intellectual and professional preparation among women in the state, the next administration will witness significant improvements in women’s political participation.”