2019: Stakeholders charge women aspirants to show capacity

Women aspiring for political offices in the country have been challenged to show capacity, discipline and integrity ahead of 2019 general elections.

They said that capacity and integrity were fundamental qualities that aspirants must display in order to secure votes from Nigerians.

The National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Ms Ebere Ifendu, said that female aspirants needed to reach out to party delegates.

She said that it was important for women to build trust and relationship if they were to be successful in politics.

“You must show capacity, discipline and integrity; it is important to be a role model if you must have a successful career in politics.

“Even men reach out to delegates; playing the sympathy card because you are women will not get the required vote.

“If you want to take politics as a career, it is important you learn the rudiments; women must reach out to the delegates to build relationship and trust,” she insisted.

In her view, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, called for review of the delegates system practised in the country.

She explained that the present system practised in the country made the delegates very powerful.

Fijabi said should the delegates be taken over by a certain aspirant, “it becomes very difficult for women to be victorious.

“We need to do a proper analysis of the kind of delegate system within political parties which makes it very difficult for women to become aspirant and candidates,” she added.

On the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act, Fijabi urged young Nigerians, especially women, to take advantage of the Act.

She said that young women should leverage the Act and be seen for the right reasons in the political scene.

According to her, the Act shows that government is responsive to the aspiration of young Nigerians who are playing a fundamental role in Nigeria’s democratic process.

On her part, a member of Nigerian Youth Parliament, Miss Henritta Edewede, reiterated the needed for the women in politics to be strong and confident.

“All the female aspirant requires is for her to build her capacity and when that is done, even the men will see reasons why she should be in office.

“In the first place, the position is not a gift, you have to fight for it; women will just vote for you because you are a woman, the aspirant must show capacity and ability to deliver,” Edewede added.