IRI Extols Labour Party on Political Participation, Leadership

The International Republican Institute, IRI, has scored the Labour Party high in its inclusive policies, reiterating its commitment to strengthening inclusive political participation in Nigeria.

The Institute’s Resident Program Director, Sentell Barnes, while paying an advocacy visit to the Julius Abure led faction of the Labour Party, LP, National Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, also outlined its programmes and projects in Nigeria, emphasizing efforts to promote inclusion of marginalized groups in political parties, through policy development workshops and advocacy initiatives.

National Chairman of the Party, Abure, in his remarks, highlighted the party’s strides in ensuring inclusivity across its structures and activities.

He noted that the party has consistently, promoted women’s political participation, including advocacy for 35% legislative seat reservations for women, as well as appointments of women into party leadership positions at local, state, and national levels.

Advertisement

Abure said: “The Labour Party issued free nomination forms to women aspiring for elective positions, a gesture that contributed to the election of two women into the federal legislature — one in the House of Representatives and another in the Senate.

“Also, several state chairpersons of the party are women, Edo, Rivers, and Lagos States.”

On youth inclusion, the chairman explained that the party had established a directorate for youth affairs, with plans to develop it into an institute to further empower and educate young people in politics.

“Many youths benefitted from free or subsidized nomination forms in the last elections, which enabled a number of them to secure elective offices across the country,” he said.

Advertisement

Abure also emphasized the Party’s support for less privileged aspirants who often face financial barriers in politics.

According to him, “the party’s decision to provide free nomination forms to financially disadvantaged candidates allowed new entrants into the political space, many of whom went on to win elections.”

Reaffirming the party’s commitment, Abure assured that Labour Party will continue to champion inclusiveness and provide opportunities for women, youths, and the underprivileged, expressing optimism that, “these measures would result in greater representation of marginalized groups in the 2027 general elections.”

The National Chairman also hinted the Resident Director on various policy initiatives of the party, which includes youth, women, and PWDs inclusion in party administration and election contestation adding that; “the party’s political education initiatives, expected to crystalize into a Labour Party Democratic Institute will be assigned with the training of party members and agents.”