Group Advocates Participation Of Marginalised Groups In Osun Election

 

By Sola Jacobs

The National Democratic Institute has called for an increased participation by marginalised groups in Nigeria electoral processes.

It also said that, intrinsic right be made available to all citizens to be heard and informed for citizenship participation to drive democratic change.

The disclosure was made by Annabel Ugwoke, Programme Officer of the National Democratic Institute, in Osogbo Osun state capital at a ‘Voters Education’ (VE), and ‘Stop Violence Against Women in Election’ (VAWIE), and ‘Go Out To Vote’ (GOTV) campaign training for mobilizing women voters participation in the forthcoming 2018 Osun election.

At the programme, hosted by Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI) in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (DFID) and UKAID, Ugwoke stated that the training will give women and other citizens an informed voice to help them occupy the political space provided by election which set the state for accountable and responsive government.

She however stated that though, citizens, especially marginalized groups often lack basic knowledge about the electoral process, or that they are hindered by electoral violence, yet women focused groups in Osun will be trained on campaign strategies, mobilization methodologies, message framing/dissemination and advocacy, all in a bid to educate relevant stakeholders on how to address violence against women in election, facilitate inclusion and di versify effective strategies to increase women’s’ power to engage the electoral process.

Ugwoke affirmed that Electoral Empowerment of Civil Society which originated after 2011 election will enhance role of citizens in promoting credible elections and reducing potential violence as well as consistently engage the interest of key stakeholders such as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Police, and the Media so as to keep them focused on the project.

In his remarks as the host, the Chief Executive Officer, Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI), Mr. Aremu Stephen Akinyele stated that the humanitarian organization is set up to improve and restore hope for marginalized and vulnerable groups, whatever the circumstances, and promoting values and commitments to achieve a healthy and developed society, saying advocacy visits had been made to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other relevant agencies for synergy towards a successful 2018 Osun election.

Participants at the ‘Voters Education’ (VE), ‘Stop Violence Against Women in Election’ (VAWIE), ‘Go Out To Vote (GOTV) campaign training are representatives of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Nigeria Council of women Society (NWCS), political party women leaders, Market Women leaders, Federation of Women Lawyers, Women in politics, Persons with Disability, Federation Of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Osun Widows Association among others.