As the 2023 general elections draw closer, critical stakeholders have agreed to work in synergy to ensure a secured environment for a peaceful election and reduce the incidences of violence against women.
This was part of Communique issued on Friday after the Security dialogue session towards a peaceful 2023 general election with key stakeholders in Kogi State, organised by Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF Nigeria), at the Idrinana Hotel in Lokoja the kogi state capital.
According to Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, the Executive Director of RECEF, the objectives of the meeting, includes: to strategize on key security concerns to ensure a peaceful 2023 General Elections and as well secure Stakeholders commitment to mitigate violence against women during the election
According to the communiqué, Security agencies, community leaders, including religious leaders, and all stakeholders must be vigilant and take responsibility for supporting security efforts in the state.
In addition, Civil Society Organizations and members of the press should intensify efforts to encourage women to collect their permanent voters cards, saying that
Campaign effort should be developed through partnership to sensitize the electorate on election participation most especially women
“Security agencies are to collaborate with other stakeholders in the communities for intelligence gathering to improve the provision of security of the state leading up to the elections. Security agencies must take deliberate steps to ensure that the security of women is prioritized before, during and after the elections.
“The office of the Public Defender should put modalities in place to address or enforce the VAPP law to mitigate election violence and punish offenders.
“There is no religious barrier to woman participation in an election and women are encourage to participate in an election and this should be done through platform creation, while Political parties are to build the capacity of women to participate and contest in an election
The communique also said that Women are encouraged to show will, competence and courageous as they seek to participate fully in elections, politics and governance.
In his contribution, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC) in charge of Kogi state, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet, promised transparent, free, fair and credible election in accordance to the rules of the game, through commitment and concerted efforts in Kogi State come 2023
“More work should be done by creating more sensitization for women participation in politics and they should be given support by their male counterparts
“Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps female squad will be deployed during election to build confidence in women to engender more participation of women.
The participants were drawn from civil society organizations (CSOs), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Religious bodies, Law enforcement agencies, Political parties, Traditional rulers, and the media
Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF Nigeria) in partnership with the Government of Ireland embarked on months of awareness creation, sensitization and advocacy to key stakeholders on a project titled
“Women’s participation in Election as a Voice for Development (V4D) in Kogi State” aimed at galvanizing support for peaceful elections in Kogi State.
These engagements culminated in a security dialogue session where stakeholders came together to strategize and make commitment towards a peaceful election in Kogi State come 2023, with a singular objective of reducing the incidences of violence against women and encouraging women to come out enmasse to cast their votes, which will in turn increase voters turn-out compared to 2019 off- cycle governorship election in Kogi State.
The discussants are; INEC Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet, the Director General (DG) Office of the Public Defender and Citizen’s Rights Commission Barr. Abdullahi Zakari, NSCDC deputy state commandant, Chairman Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Amb. Usman Bello, the Chairperson NAWOJ, Mrs. Anne Olunrinde, Idris MILIKI Abdul the Executive Director Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, the WOWICAN state chairperson