With the 2023 general elections in days to come, the number of women involved in politics and governance, is still unimpressive.
A recent statistics of women in politics published by BellaNaija on the 1st of February 2023 revealed that of the 991 people in the State House of Assembly, 44 are women, positioning women’s participation in politics at 6%.
Here in Rivers State, the state Independent Electoral Commission revealed that there is a slight increase in Women participation in the 2023 general elections in Rivers State.
Head of Gender Relations, Independent National Election Commission ( INEC ) , Rivers State, Beauty Ibiama explained that 85 women candidates were contesting for various positions. She gave the figures as follows:
Governorship-1
Deputy Governorship-6
Senate-5
House of Representatives-18
State House of Assembly-55
With these figures, some gender activists believe women representation in politics and governance in the state still falls short of the goal set by the National Gender Policy in 2006. This policy demands that 35% of women be involved in all governance processes.
The Executive Director, Arise For Gender and Livelihood Initiative ALIVE, Debby Effiong said, the electoral gender quota was great to have to increase women’s participation in politics and governance.
She decried the under representation and marginalization of women, that it was time for women to change the ugly trend.
“It is sad that women have been wrongly sensitized that the only way to be in politics is to be by the sideline cheering the men. Women have been wrongly sensitized to wear uniforms, act as welfare officers and share meat-pies and water. Till today we are still struggling: we don’t have women heading political parties or secretaries of political parties. Women who managed to come out as Presidential candidates don’t believe that they can win. Some women have sold out their rights/roles because of money. A whole needs to be done in terms of sensitization,” she posited.
While many hailed the state governor Nyesome Wike’s gender sensitive style, of female occupying the Local Government Vice chairman position in the 23 local government areas, some of the present female Local government Vice Chairmen are not smiling.
Some of them, who spoke with me on condition of anonymity, said they were not being carried along in governance by the Chairmen.
“They just bought personal cars for some of us, and it ended there. It was their political associates that represented them in events they could not attend instead of us as Vice Chair.” One of them said.
“Most of us are not even officially invited to events that concern the Local government where we are supposed to be serving. Even if we attend on our own, we are ignored during the event, we are not recognized.” Another lamented
“Only when it comes to mobilizing women and fill events that I’m remembered as a Local Government vice chairman here. I don’t even understand again whether it is part of our responsibility as vice Chairmen to mobilize women with uniforms and cheer the men, responding to their chanting of “women oyee.” She decried.
But the Executive Director of the Gender and Development Action, Nyengi Irima, believes that Governor Wike’s self styled policy to have women occupy the Vice Chairmen positions at the local government level is commendable and very import in increasing the number of women involved in active politics in the state.
“The fact that they are occupying that position is very important. Their representation on that position is key. This will increase the amount of women active participation in politics and governance in the state. They may not be active now, but will be active later. That is why we are advocating that they give women more active roles in the political party level, even outside the local government level.
With the goal set by the National Gender Policy in 2006, demanding that 35% of women be involved in all governance processes, looking misty, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Rivers State Chapter, has however raised hope that Rivers State will soon top the chart in achieving the goals set by the National Gender Policy of 35percent of women involved in all governance processes. She said “with the slight increase of the number of women involved in the 2023 general elections and the state governor’s personal gender policy, more women will realize the great role they play in the society and be more involved in active politics and governance in Rivers State”.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Rivers State Chapter, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana said NAWOJ will continue to be at the fore-front with other sister organizations, supporting and encouraging women to boldly participate in politics.
“we have been on different media platforms organizing programs to encourage women to participate in healthy politics, and we will not relent in this efforts. We urge them to come out during the forth-coming election and vote wisely and desist from selling their votes for a fee.” She assured.
Precious Werner Ahiakwo is an award-winning freelance Investigative Journalist, writing from Port Harcourt.