Ahead of next year’s general election, the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has granted a financial waiver to all female aspirants on its platform, expressing greater commitment to gender mainstreaming.
The landmark decision puts to end the frustration often faced by female aspirants, most of who found it difficult to cough out the required 50 per cent of nominations fees paid by their male counterparts.
National Woman Leader of the party, Dr Beta Edu who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, said the decision was approved by Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee NWC.
She said; “I have the blessings of the chairman to announce to Nigerian women that APC has provided a platform for them to run.
“The chairman promised to mainstream women, to give us a seat at the table, to give us a potent voice to contribute our quota to national development. President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife have led the way in mainstreaming women.
“The party has gone ahead to approve that women will be running with free nomination forms.
“The party has thrown the ball to our court. Before now we had women saying they could not afford the form. Now you have been given the highest platform with the greatest chance of emerging as winners of elections because you will be running on the ticket of a ruling party that has performed. Now the ball is in your court. Women should stand up and contest. We must be actively involved in the processes leading to the 2023 general election. We must register as voters and go door to door to remind women and others to register”.
