The Coalition of Anambra Women on Free and Fair Elections on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the Awka office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the challenges of women involvement in politics.
The challenges, the women said, include the non-engagement of women during the voter registration process, gender-based violence during elections, lack of women representation in governance among others.
The women who carried placards from Aroma Junction down to INEC office with inscriptions, such as “INEC, Umunwayi Anambra are calling on you to kick start voter registration now”, “INEC, extend your pooling units to markets, parks and Correctional Centers”, among others, decried the fact that INEC is yet to set the ball rolling for the Anambra gubernatorial election, ABS reports.
The State Coordinator, Women for Women, Anambra State chapter, Barrister Oge Ekwozor, said Umunwanyi Anambra are calling on INEC to Kick-start voter registration immediately, update the voters’ register, extend polling units to markets, parks and Correction Service Centres, adding that no woman should be disenfranchised.
Also speaking during the protest, former State Commissioner For Women Affairs and Coordinator, League Of Women Voters, Dr Mrs Ego Uzoezie said the group had come out to reawaken women, to be actively involved in politics and governance adding that INEC should resume voter sensitization for the forthcoming election to ensure that those who were under-aged during the last registration get registered.
She reminded women that the time is now for them to come out and vote for their right candidates.
The State Coordinator, One Hundred Women Lobby Group, Mrs Ify Unachukwu who is also the Head of Program Unit of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, said Anambra women want a free and fair election come November six, 2021.
INEC Resident Commissioner in Anambra State, Mr Nkwachukwu Orji who spoke through the Head of Electoral Operations, Mr Innocent Ekulo noted that INEC has a gender policy that targets women in particular and that women should always feel free to reach out to the Desk Officer of the commission at any time.
The Women coalition is made up of the Women for Women, Anambra State Chapter in partnership with Unique Women Development Foundation, Women Action Committee and Nigerian League Of Women Voters, Anambra State Branch.
