The Peoples Democratic Party has asked
women to be ready to pay for nomination forms instead of waiting to be
asked to pick them free by political parties.
It said this would enhance their participation and also earn them respect in politics.
The Chairman, National Caretaker
Committee of the party, Ahmed Makarfi, stated this when he received the
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Jummai
Alhassan, at the PDP headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Makarfi said the PDP would support the
enactment of a law in support of the gender parity in politics and
participation in governance.
He said, “If it is in compliance with
the law, everybody will comply, but if you leave it flexible, it is an
escapist route. Forget about the nomination form, pay and get the
ticket. Let us do the right thing.”
He also made a case for consideration of
the women’s move to secure legislation backing the 35 per cent
affirmative action on women participation in politics and government in
the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
While praising the minister for her
productivity, Makarfi said, “I am not very surprised that you are doing
well because you were trained and brought up by the PDP.”
Earlier, the minister had asked
political parties to adopt a policy of voluntary electoral party gender
quota system as a means of guaranteeing more participation of the
womenfolk in politics and governance.
She described the initiative as a
deliberate strategy of earmarking constituencies solely for female
candidates during an election.
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