馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Ekiti CSOs advocate for increased female representation in 2027 state and national assembly elections
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
A coalition of civil society organizations in Ekiti State is urging political parties to ensure fair and transparent opportunities for women to contest and emerge as candidates in the 2027 state and national assembly elections. The CSOs, working to advance women鈥檚 political participation, highlighted the low level of female representation in leadership despite Nigeria's commitment to inclusive governance and a 35% affirmative action target for women. They specifically called on political parties, through the Inter-Party Advisory Council and the ruling All Progressive Congress, to institutionalize clear and inclusive guidelines for candidate selection and publicly commit to the 35% affirmative action targets for women across all legislative candidacies. The coalition emphasized that achieving increased representation, from the current 23% in the Ekiti State Assembly to 35%, is a democratic necessity. They also charged women in Ekiti State to step forward, organize, and contest, stating that the credibility of the 2027 elections will be measured by how inclusive the process is from the beginning. The CSOs stressed that women are critical stakeholders in nation-building and democratic governance, and their intentional inclusion and meaningful representation in politics are crucial, moving beyond symbolic gestures. The coalition includes organizations such as the Coalition of CSOs on Women鈥檚 Political Participation in Ekiti State, New Generation Girls and Women Development Initia
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