A group, Imo Women Matter(IWM) has reiterated its call on political parties to field women as their deputy governorship candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Convener of the group, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu made the call in a statement on Friday, May 19..
The First Lady of Ondo State urged the political parties especially those that were yet to field female deputy governorship candidates to take advantage of the May 26 window for substitution of candidates to do so.
She frowned at the exclusion of women in governance and political representation in the state and called on political parties and stakeholders to address the matter.
Chief Akeredolu recalled efforts made by the IMW to ensure gender parity in governance and political representation to include writing letters to political parties on the imperative of fielding their female faithful as deputy governorship candidates.
According to her, her group also held a press conference in Owerri and would sustain engagements with the leaderships of political parties and critical stakeholders on the issue.
The Ondo State First Lady expressed happiness at the willingness of some political parties not only to accede to the demand of the group but also extend the frontiers of gender inclusion in political activities.
She submitted that the group’s priority is the promotion of gender parity and mainstreaming in Imo State and the country.
Mrs. Akeredolu emphasized the need for the commitment of political parties towards achieving gender parity, stressing that lip service would not be acceptable to women in Imo State.
The first lady who holds the chieftaincy title of Ada Owere 1 also submittted that the promoters of IWM do not wish to be nominated by any of the parties or to nominate female deputy governorship candidates for the parties.
Recall that of the three major political parties,only the Labour Party has nominated a woman, Edith Ekwugha as running mate to its Governorship Candidate, Senator Athan Achonu.
The Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Nnemeka Anyanwu has picked Hon. Jones Onyereri as his running mate while the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Senator Hope Uzodimma submitted to the electoral umpire the name of Barr. Ralph Nwosu as a place holder.
Pressure is being piled up on him to choose a woman as his running mate for the Governorship Poll holding on November 11, 2023.
