Members of the Ondo APC Women For Equality have organized a protest in response to their exclusion from the upcoming Chairmanship race, following the party leadership’s choice to nominate consensus candidates for the Local Government Council elections scheduled for January 18, 2025, across all 18 local governments.
In a statement, the group, spearheaded by President Mrs. Ayodele Beatrice and Public Relations Officer Mrs. Olubunmi Orisabinone, voiced their frustration over the state governor’s decision to overlook women in the local government elections.
“This exclusion raises serious concerns for Aiyedatiwa, particularly in light of the strong support we provided during his campaign. It feels as though our contributions have been completely ignored,” they stated.
The group accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of sidelining women’s rights in his political appointments, asserting that his administration shows little commitment to fostering gender equality in Ondo’s political arena.
“Despite our unwavering support during pivotal moments, the governor’s actions reflect a lack of dedication to achieving gender balance,” they emphasized.
The absence of female candidates from the APC in the forthcoming local government elections is seen as a significant setback for women in Ondo, whose representation falls short of the 35% requirement set forth in the National Gender Policy established in 2006.
“Our representation in Aiyedatiwa’s administration is far below what has been accomplished in other Nigerian states. The governor is treating the women of Ondo State unfairly,” they lamented.
With women making up roughly 59% of Ondo State’s population, the protesters argue that their representation in Aiyedatiwa’s government is significantly lacking compared to other regions in Nigeria.
“How can he disregard us so blatantly? How can he select chairmanship candidates across 18 local governments without including a single woman?” the group questioned.
“It seems as though our interests were overlooked. Our women were eager to participate, yet it is disheartening that we were not even considered. We deserve representation in at least five local governments.”
The group has challenged the governor’s decision to exclude them and is demanding immediate action to address what they describe as marginalization.
“We will not tolerate any oppression or suppression of our rights and involvement in governance under the Aiyedatiwa-APC administration,” they declared.
