An all female organisation, Electher, in partnership Nigeria Women Trust Fund, NWTF, praised women for playing more active roles at the Edo Governorship election held last Saturday in Edo State.
The Program Manager of Electher at the Edo State election, Amina Yaya, who addressed journalists on the outcome of their observations, said there was good participation of women in Edo State election, including the aged and those with disability.
Electher, a group that specialises in investing in the inclusion of women in the social economic and public public life across Africa, in conjunction with their partner, the NWTF had a situation room in Protea hotel where they concentrated on the numbers of women who participated in guber election.
According to her, “Our observers were in various local governments areas of the state. We will be coming up with a wholistic report of the election, which includes late arrival of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) materials in some local government areas.
“We are gender centric, hence we take sensitive angle to different issues discussed on pre-election element, including demography, available data, campaign promises of the candidates and lots of deficit in terms of gender disseminated data”, she said.
Yaha said, “Some of the factors affecting women seeking political office are lack of Interparty democracy, funds needed to finance campaign, and social cultural barriers that has existed for years. And still in communities till date, including the the fact that political offices are men driven.
“We advocate and strongly believe that women friendly manifestoes by political candidates and women holding elective offices are healthy for strengthening Women economic Empowerment”, she added.
