Stakeholders at a programme organised by Women in Politics Forum have raised concerns over the maltreatment of women in the present political arrangement, saying the major political parties have sidelined women.
According to them, while the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, among other political parties have marginalised women with regard to political participation, women should be protected against violence in the forthcoming general election.
The speakers included the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen; Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi and President of WIPF, Ebere Ifendu.
They spoke in Abuja during a programme titled, ‘Securing Nigerian women at the polls and beyond: National dialogue on preventing violence against women in the 2023 election’, organised by WIPF.
The event was to develop strategies and tactics for preventing violence against women in the 2023 elections.
Tallen encouraged women not to be weighed down by male political domination.
She said all the political parties had failed Nigerian women.
“Unfortunately, and in fact, all the political parties, including my party (APC), have not done well for women. I say it openly. Almost all parties are not fair to women.
“It is not like we do not have qualified women. Despite all that, I do not want your spirit to be dampened. The struggle continues. We will continue to intensify until we change their mind set,” she said.
Also, Ene Obi of the ActionAid Nigeria called for tougher punitive measures against perpetrators of violence against women in politics, saying all women must begin to collectively rise against acts of violence targeted at other women.