Connect with us

News

INEC marks International Women’s Day with call for gender equality in politics

Published

on

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commemorated International Women’s Day with a call for gender equality in politics.

Chairman of INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was speaking during the event, in Abuja, underscored the Commission’s steadfast commitment to advancing the role of women in electoral processes and beyond.

In his address to a diverse audience comprising national commissioners, former commissioners, and representatives from various sectors,

Prof. Yakubu emphasized the theme of this year’s celebration: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” highlighting the urgent need to inspire inclusion, stressing the pivotal role women play in driving societal progress.

He said “the Commission is aware of the concern raised by Nigerians about the low level of gender representation in elective positions nationwide. The Commission shares this concern and we have consistently been urging political parties to redress the obvious under-representation of women, youths and persons with disability by nominating more of them as candidates for elections.

“To accelerate progress in this regard, I will go as far as calling on the National Assembly to introduce affirmative action as part of the electoral reforms that will ensure greater representation of women, youths and persons with disability in elective offices nationwide.

“In the weeks ahead, the Commission will engage with the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters on this and other areas of reform.

“Today is International Women’s Day. As an equal opportunity employer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is delighted to join the rest of the world to celebrate this auspicious occasion not in a symbolic way but as a practical affirmation of our commitment to deepening gender equality, representation, relevance, empowerment and a sense of belonging.

“The main theme of this year’s celebration is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” while the campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion”. Inclusion, in particular, has been a focal area of our commitment covering gender, youths and persons with disability. For this reason, the Commission has since developed and validated its gender policy with the full support of all stakeholders. We have also been dutifully implementing the gender policy in a practical way.

“It is not by coincidence that the two successive Secretaries to the Commission are women. Furthermore, the present Commission deliberately created a whole Department of Gender and Inclusivity in 2021 dedicated to the promotion of inclusive representation in the workplace and the electoral process. Today, out of 24 Departments and Directorates at the Commission’s Headquarters, 11 (representing 46%) are headed by women.

“We also have women serving as Administrative Secretaries in our State offices and Heads of various Departments at State level. There is also no State in Nigeria without women serving as Electoral Officers (EOs) in charge of our Local Government Offices.

“In addition to Departmental and other responsibilities, the Commission has also built and equipped a Crèche for the convenience of staff of all categories who are nursing mothers. By coincidence, the Crèche will be commissioned shortly as part of the activities for this year’s International Women’s Day. Our intention is to extend such a facility to our state offices as funds permit.

Also Speaking, Secretary to the Commission, Rose Orairan-Anthony, Sa’id “With technical support from The Electoral Hub, the Gender and Inclusivity Department has successfully aggregated data of the female members and director cadre staff of the Commission. The output of this exercise underscores the progressive gender-sensitivity of the Commission since 1999 to date.

“The commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day by the Commission reflects the importance that it ascribes to equity and inclusion both in the workplace as well as in electoral governance. Special thanks go to the Honorable Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for promoting and ensuring a level and gender- friendly playing field and championing the cause of women within the Commission.

“Appreciation also goes to the members of the Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC) for providing the needed support for women advancement within the Commission. They include Prof. Sani Adam, SAN; Dr. Baba Bila; Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah, OON; and Prof. Rhoda Gumus.’

“The effort of the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, is also acknowledged and appreciated, as her passion for gender equity is palpable and clearly apparent to all within her space. I also wish to appreciate the Special Adviser to the Honorable Chairman of the Commission, Prof. M. J. Kuna, who has consistently provided guidance to the Gender and Inclusivity Department on critical projects,”she said.

Spread the love

News

Tinubu celebrates Itsekiri leader, Emami@50, commends his commitment to nation-building

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has felicitated prominent Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayiri Emami on his 50th birthday.

Tinubu in a statement by Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy) commended the politician, businessman, and philanthropist for his contribution to nation building.

President Tinubu specifically noted what he called the Itsekiri leader “valiant efforts in peacebuilding and in ensuring the safety and sustenance of critical oil and gas resources, as well as in fostering unity and stability in the Niger Delta region.”

He also recalled his contributions to the growth of the All Progressives Congress in Delta state and his loyalty to the President immediate family over the years, particularly “before and during the 2023 elections.”

The statement read in part: “President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Ayirimi Emami, a prominent Itsekiri leader, on his 50th birthday, April 26.

“Chief Emami is a politician, businessman, and philanthropist.

“President Tinubu commends the Itsekiri leader for his commitment to nation-building, epitomised by his valiant efforts in peacebuilding and in ensuring the safety and sustenance of critical oil and gas resources, as well as in fostering unity and stability in the Niger Delta region.

“I thank Chief Emami for his support over the years for me and my wife, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a daughter of Itsekiriland, standing with us before and during the 2023 elections.”

“President Tinubu wishes Chief Emami good health and many more years of impactful service to the Itsekiri people and Nigeria.”

Spread the love
Continue Reading

News

40 Lawmakers, 2 Govs planning to dump PDP for Wike, Damagun – Ugochinyere reveals

Published

on

L-R: Minister of the the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagun

As gale of defection continues to rock the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, fresh plots to dump the party by 40 members of the House of Representatives and 2 sitting governors has been revealed by Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo.

Ugochinyere who is the official mouthpiece of the coalition lawmakers in the House of Representatives sound a warning on Friday during a live broadcast that if the National Working Committee, NWC does not take urgent steps to save the party by rectifying the removal of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum and replace him with a candidate from the Northcentral and expel the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, from the party, the PDP would’ve begun in few weeks to come.

The lawmaker who represents Ideato federal constituency of Imo State, urged the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, to urgently take steps towards addressing the imminent danger.

He said the founding fathers of PDP will cry if they were to be alive to see the pitiable condition of the Peoples Democratic Party today.
He said: “If all the founding fathers of PDP were alive today, seeing what is happening, they would be crying over how the once biggest opposition in Africa has been turned into a political dog that barks without biting.

“It’s very important to start on this note that those days we are so scared that what will come is now here with us, as it has to do with your position and the PDP.

“We cried, we fought, we begged the PDP leaders to stand up and rescue the party. That you have an impostor in the person of Umar Damagun, and a treacherous political human being in the person of Samuel Anyanwu.

“PDP governors played with this, PDP stakeholders played with this, we said if the right thing is not done that this party will disintegrate before our own eyes.

“If Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar, Adamu Chiroma and all the founding fathers of this party if all of them are alive today, seeing what is happening, they would be crying at how the once biggest opposition in Africa has been turned into a political dog that barks without biting.

“The threat that these men portend, who warned of the consequences today. Look at the state of our party, our governors are jumping ship. Our lawmakers are jumping ship.

“Our senators are jumping ship. Our members are jumping ship in different parts of the country. But come to think about it. We blame outsiders or those who have decided to work with the APC, but what about ourselves, our governors?

“What did the governors do categorically to resolve this problem? When I was removed, the right thing to do was to convene an NEC meeting and find a replacement from North Central.

“When the time for the NEC comes our governors will say, “it is Salah Muslim people are traveling, let’s shift it. When they come back they say it is Easter. “When they come back again they say it is Christmas.

“When they come back again, they say it is a public holiday. Is this not shameful behaviour? For two years, the leaders of this party could not find a solution to the problem.

“For two good years, because they have decided to sabotage the same platform that gave them whatever they have today. For two good years, Damagun stayed with Anyanwu to carry out a very simple task, which was to decimate the party.

“I listened and I saw Damagun say our fate is in God’s hands. That is rubbish and an arrant nonsense statement. “Damagun, why are you bringing God into this? How can our fate be in God’s hands? Where was God when you allowed a NEC meeting for North Central to appoint an acting replacement?

“Where was God when you kept on shifting it? Where was God when you filed a matter in court against our own PDP in support of those lawmakers who defected from PDP to APC in Rivers state, which led us to the crisis of emergency today in Rivers?

“Where was God when you decided to give party structures to members of the APC? Where was God when you decided to keep on supporting the likes of Danobi and all those other treacherous elements that were hell-bent on destroying the party?

“You now talk about our fate being in God’s hands. But you permitted Wike to join the APC government while remaining in the PDP.

“You’re the one that is encouraging them both in depth and everywhere to the camp, and you open your mouth and say our fate is in God’s hands, and you’re still sitting in a position that you have no legal right to be sitting. You’re a very wicked man.”

Spread the love
Continue Reading

Entertainment

© 2025. CAPITAL POST Publishing Company Limited (RC: 1741355). All rights reserved.
Address: Address: 1st Floor, Nwakpabi Plaza, Suite 110, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Apo, Abuja
Tel: +234 7036084449, +234 8066722600, +234 7012711701
Email: info@capitalpost.ng
Email: capitalpost20@gmail.com