The disappointing outing of women in the Primaries of the two major Political Parties in Nigeria - PDP and APC called for sober reflection at a press conference convened by the 100 Women Group (WG) on the 10th of December 2014 in Abuja. Women expressed displeasure at the outcome of the Primaries.
The 100 WG said "women are being tactically edged out and battered emotionally in the Parties' Primary Elections so far due to undue interference of Political Party leaders, intimidation and negative cajoling of women..." The 100 WG further stated that "Political Parties need to demonstrate to Nigerian women that they value their contributions to the sustainability of Political Parties in Nigeria...This is sad 20 years after the Beijing conference."
It is noteworthy that the press conference took place on the last day of the 16 days of activism against GBV worldwide. Women are being "cajoled" out of their political aspirations was termed "emotional violence" on female participants. What then do Nigerian women want? The statement was categorical about what women want:
*Visibility
*Inclusion in governance
*Space in the ballot box
*Where a male is governor, a female should be Deputy Governor and vice versa
*The electorate should support Nigerian women who have scaled through the Primaries in the forthcoming elections
*All Political Parties & IPAC were reminded of their promise to support women during lobby visits by the 100 WG.
GBV should be curtailed in the political arena
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