Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, and Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) have called on stakeholders to protect women and prevent electoral violence ahead of the general elections.
They made the call on Friday at a National Dialogue on Preventing Violence Against Women in 2023 general elections organised by WIPF, with support from National Democratic Institute (NDI), in Abuja .
Tallen said that women were faced with a lot of challenges particularly in the political season thus the need for them to stand together and support one another .
“We have a role to support and protect these women because women are the most vulnerable and better leaders, they have the mothers’ hearts to make things happen.
“On behalf of all Nigerian women and the female candidates, I am making a passionate appeal that we owe it a responsibility to ensure that these women are protected,” the minister urged.
Tallen encouraged women to be strong and fully armed ”because the struggles continue.
“Those that have registered to monitor these elections, you should have the fear of God to protect the vulnerables and ensure that each vote is counted.
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“We should not fold our hands and allow these women to be phased out, because if women are not on the decision table, the country won’t work.”
President, WIPF, Ebere Ifendu, said the dialogue was a continuation of the meetings with security agents and candidates ahead of the elections to look for ways to tackle violence during elections.
She said; “Women are mostly hit when there is violence and you can see that our situation in Nigeria today is very pitiable and scary and everyone is feeling it .
“The level of violence is something we need to address, we have an election in few days’ time and a lot of things are happening.
“INEC themselves are crying, over 52 INEC establishments had been destroyed, so it is something that should be of concern to everyone living in Nigeria especially the government and security agencies.
“This is the reason we are here today with all our stakeholders to talk about what steps we are going to take to ensure that the elections are free from any form of violence.”
According to Ifendu, the group expects credible elections that the people will come out to vote.
She said the group identified some challenges that might affect the elections like attacks during campaign and Naira scarcity, among others.
“WIPF is now partnering with NCSDC, we will have a situation room with them to take proactive action against violence,” Ifendu added.
She said that there would be a communiqué at the end of the dialogue to be shared with the media and major stakeholders like INEC and the I-G so as to encourage follow up and implementation of the salient issues raised.
Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, commended the forum for the initiative to support and make case for women ahead of the elections.
Obi stressed the need to take the protection of women during elections seriously to avoid unpalatable incidences.
She said: “When you strike a woman, so many humans are affected, there is a changing trend and that is that if you touch a woman now, you touch every woman.
“Wherever you are in any corner of the country, just let us know, these days, we just need to activate the agency of women.”
Obi said that for women to progress, they have to start looking out and helping one another as well as shun envy and jealousy.
She said: “It is important to know that when a sister is wounded, you have been wounded, if you don’t protect the next woman to you, you yourself are not protected.
“So, as we face the 2023 general elections, we need to mobilise.” (NAN)
