Akoko North-East/North-West Bye-Election: APC Women Group Demands Female Candidate
Women wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko North-East local government area, Ondo State, has demanded for the concession of the party’s candidate for the forthcoming bye-election in Akoko North-East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency to the womenfolk.
The women on Tuesday took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration to drive home this demand at Ikare-Akoko, the council headquarter of the LGA. In their hundreds, the women displayed placards and banners with different inscriptions on them.
They were seen marching through the broad street to the Palace of the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, displaying such messages as: “It’s Women Turn”, Give us a Woman at the National Assembly”, We don’t want a Male dominated National Assembly in Ondo State”, among other letterings.
Leader of the women, Alhaja Olokinmi Taiwo, who interacted with journalists on behalf of the women, said, “For so many years, women have been marginalised, not only in Akoko but in Ondo State, yet women usually vote en masse for our party, the APC in all elections.
“This time, we are pleading with the leadership of the local government, party leadership at the national and state levels to consider the women department of the party, this time, and allow a woman to represent Akoko North-East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency in the next bye-election. We are not asking for too much.”
The women who ended terminated their march at the entrance of the palace of Olukare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, moved to into the monarch’s palace to express this interest to the traditional ruler and his chiefs.
Mrs Idiat Adesina, one of the women’s coordinators, explained to the king and the chiefs that the purpose of the peaceful demonstration was to plead with the community to support a woman as APC candidate in the bye-election.
According to Adesina, “All the nine members of the House of Representatives from Ondo State are men. All the three Senators from Ondo State are men. It means all the representatives of Ondo State at the National Assembly are men.
“This is a big injustice against the women. And now that we have an opportunity for a bye-election, we are pleading with our fathers and leaders in this community to consider the women and allow one of us to represent the Federal Constituency.”
COMMENTS