ELECTORAL ACT: WOMEN GROUP KICKS AGAINST PROPOSED AMENDMENT

A women civil society group has said that the proposed amendment to some sections of the 2010 Electoral Act can spell doom for the political aspiration of women in politics.
In a statement signed by the 18-member group on Friday, the women called for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed amendment and an adoption of the recommendations of the Justice Uwais panel on electoral reform.
The group, under the aegis of Women Consortium of Nigeria, said that the National Assembly should not dabble into issues that should be resolved at the levels of the political parties by making the National Executive Committee, which is dominated by men, the highest decision making body of any party.
The statement said, “Nigerian women consider to 2011 general elections as a golden opportunity to turn around this dismal and low representation of women in elective positions.
“Unfortunately, it appears that women’s political aspirations are being truncated even before they manifest as a result of the failure of the government to create a level playing ground for the women.
“The proposed amendment by the National Assembly is synonymous with giving the right to choose the candidate or the political parties to incumbent members of the assembly and political appointees.”
“The implication is a systemic exclusion of half of the population and we reject this selfish political manifestation by the male hegemony in Nigeria. They should immediately implement the 35 per cent affirmative action.”
The women called on the National Assembly to consider the bills on Violence Against Women, Domestication of Convention against all forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Equal Opportunity Bill.