Women in Kwara South have called for greater political representation and pledged support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi (SYD), and other party candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The women made the call at the SYD Unique Women Grassroots Mobilisation programme held in Idofian, where speakers urged political leaders to create more opportunities for women to participate in governance and decision-making.
The Coordinator and Vice Chairman of Isin Local Government Area, Ganiyat Sanni, said women had contributed significantly to society but remained underrepresented in political leadership.
She advocated greater inclusion of women in governance, saying their participation would enable them to contribute more meaningfully to the development of the state.
Sanni also commended the state government and other stakeholders for efforts to increase women’s political participation.
While responding to her plea, Chairman of the APC in Kwara State, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, assured the women of increased political inclusion, saying the present administration had made efforts to improve the status of women and youths in the state.
He attributed the party’s electoral successes to the support of women and urged them to remain united and committed to the party.
Former Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Inter-Party Affairs, Mushood Alaka, said the state government had created an enabling environment for women to participate in politics.
He noted that women had historically been used mainly for political campaigns and electioneering, without adequate opportunities for political office.
Alaka therefore called on the state government to change the narrative by considering a woman for the deputy governorship position in the forthcoming elections.
Former Commissioner for Finance and House of Representatives candidate for Irepodun/Oke Ero/Ekiti/Isin Federal Constituency, Florence Oyeyemi, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by women in the state and urged them to strengthen their support for women seeking elective positions.
Secretary of Irepodun Local Government Area, Musa Folashade, said the initiative was focused on developing young women into future leaders, while also empowering widows and other categories of women across the 83 wards of Kwara South.
Development Officer for Patigi Local Government Area, Fatima Jiya, commended the state government for creating opportunities for women to participate in governance and urged them to take the message of political participation to the grassroots.
In her keynote address, resource person Tosin Ajayi urged women to move beyond political mobilisation to active participation and decision-making.
