As part of its activities observing the 2023 elections, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund Gender and Election Watch (GEW) deployed 350 accredited observers across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to observe the Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly Elections from a Gender perspective in Adamawa, Kano, Lagos, Oyo and Rivers and the State House of Assembly elections in Anambra and Kogi.

There were records of attacks and disruptions in Lagos, Rivers, Kano, and Adamawa, though security officials were responsive in some areas, it didn’t deter the thugs from attacking election observers, journalists, INEC officials, and voters. NWTF GEW laments the poor security situation during the 18 March 2023 elections noting that the security breaches could have been avoided with intense security action and internal coordination while calling on the security agencies for the arrest and prosecution of electoral offenders.

NWTF GEW commends all female candidates in the 2023 elections for their resilience while condemning efforts and attempts to truncate the emergence of women as winners in the elections. The air of uncertainty around the results of the Adamawa Gubernatorial Elections which has been announced as inconclusive, calls for concern for the GEW, this is because it involves a female Candidate Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) who is a strong contender as this could deter women intending to contest political positions in the Nigerian Political space and a negative indication for inclusive democratic practice which Nigeria should aim at for national growth and development.

The ban on non-governmental organization electoral observers by incumbent governors has been flagged as a backward practice that should not be encouraged as INEC had accredited these observers ahead of the elections to observe the elections and the GEW urges INEC to issue a definitive legal statement to stop future reoccurrence.

Esther Alaribe
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com