Stakeholders comprising non-governmental organisations (NGOs), political parties, electoral bodies, religious leaders and civil society actors in Kogi State have resolved to work collectively to end electoral violence and dismantle barriers limiting women’s participation in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that the resolution was reached at a state-level consultative forum on women and political parties, convened to improve inclusivity and enhance women’s participation in the electoral process in Kogi State.
Speaking at the forum, participants identified deep-rooted cultural and religious barriers, political victimisation, violence before, during and after elections, unfavourable social norms and the persistent stigmatisation of women as major obstacles discouraging women from active political engagement. They stressed that these challenges must be urgently addressed before the 2027 polls.
The programme was organised by the Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI) in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with support from UK International Development. Participants unanimously agreed that all forms of violence, discrimination and stigmatisation against women in the electoral space must be eliminated in Kogi State.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of CPI, Mrs Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, said the project was designed to strengthen women’s understanding of electoral laws and processes while deepening their engagement with key electoral stakeholders.
“The overall objective of this project is to enhance women’s knowledge of electoral laws and processes and to strengthen their engagement with key electoral institutions and stakeholders in Kogi State,” she said.
Agbogun noted that despite constitutional guarantees of equal political participation, women in Nigeria—particularly at the subnational level—continue to face systemic and structural exclusion.
“Recognising persistent gender-based marginalisation, this project focuses on strengthening understanding of electoral laws, building a non-partisan, women-led coalition, improving access to critical electoral information, and enhancing women’s engagement with institutions such as INEC and political parties,” she explained.
She disclosed that the initiative, scheduled for implementation between July 2025 and February 2026, is expected to drive long-term change in women’s electoral participation across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State.
“While progress has been recorded at the national level in gender policy development, actual representation and participation of women at the state and grassroots levels remain disproportionately low,” Agbogun said.
“Women continue to face barriers including limited understanding of electoral processes, entrenched cultural and religious norms, socio-economic disadvantages, minimal representation in party leadership structures, and the growing threat of gender-based electoral violence.”
She added that poor voter education, misinformation, and weak engagement between women and key electoral stakeholders have further eroded women’s confidence and safety during elections.
“Through this project, CPI seeks to build a strong, informed and coordinated coalition of women leaders and grassroots actors capable of driving inclusivity, combating misinformation and safeguarding women’s electoral rights in Kogi State,” she stated.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Kogi NGO Network, Mr Hamza Aliyu, called for practical strategies that would deliver tangible outcomes for women’s political inclusion.
“We must adopt strategies that work. Electoral reform remains a topical issue, and women must take more interest in shaping it,” Aliyu said.
“Political parties, as major beneficiaries of the electoral process, must deliberately design policies that properly accommodate women and encourage them to seek elective offices.”
Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Mrs Comfort Ojoma Egwuaba, commended CPI for organising what she described as a timely and robust engagement on an issue that continues to threaten women’s participation in politics.
“What we lack is not policies, but the effective implementation of policies that encourage women’s participation in politics,” she said.
“It is time to move beyond lip service. We must identify the root causes discouraging women from politics and chart a clear way forward. Harmful societal norms must be corrected if women are to thrive politically.”
In his goodwill message, a representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) emphasised the need for collective responsibility in ensuring inclusive participation.
“All hands must be on deck to promote mass participation in the electoral process,” he said, adding that “the time has come to end all forms of marginalisation against women, youths and persons with disabilities in Kogi State.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Alhaji Mamman Nda Eri, described the initiative as timely and strategic.
“This project addresses one of the most critical pillars of democratic consolidation—the meaningful participation of women in politics and electoral processes,” Eri said.
“Empowering women as voters, candidates, party leaders and defenders of democratic values is not a privilege; it is a democratic necessity.”
He expressed optimism that the forum would translate into concrete reforms and sustained advocacy.
“I hope the outcomes of this engagement will lead to practical reforms, stronger networks and sustained advocacy that will significantly improve women’s political participation in Kogi State,” he added.
Religious leaders and representatives of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) also lent their voices to the call for greater inclusion of women in elections, stressing that inclusive participation is critical to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and aligning it with global best practices.
The forum ended with a collective commitment by stakeholders to intensify advocacy, promote peaceful elections and ensure that women are fully included in Kogi State’s political and electoral processes ahead of 2027.
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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