Labor Party Reinforces Commitment to Women’s Political Engagement in Nigeria
Nenadi Usman, the National Chairman of the Labor Party, emphasized the importance of increasing women’s participation in Nigeria’s political landscape. Her remarks came during a visit from the League of Women Voters of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday.
Usman praised women’s organizations for their dedication to advancing political rights for women. She encouraged participants to remain steadfast in the face of intimidation and other barriers that often hinder women’s engagement in politics.
During the event, Usman revealed that the Labor Party leadership had directed several of its Members of Parliament elected in 2023 to promote gender-inclusive legislation in the 10th Parliament, despite some of them defecting to other political parties.
Highly regarding the party’s track record, Usman pointed out that the Labor Party had made strides in inclusivity. Notably, it produced Nigeria’s first female national chairman of a major political party. She highlighted that women are now occupying critical leadership roles within the party, including positions such as national chairman, national organizational secretary, and national legal adviser.
Usman affirmed that the Labor Party remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing women’s political participation and encouraged women not to wait for special opportunities before entering the political arena. She urged them to take courageous political actions and engage actively in leadership.
Reflecting on her own journey, Usman mentioned that she never depended on quotas or special arrangements to carve out her political career. “If I can do it, you can too,” she encouraged, sharing her belief in the potential of women to succeed in political roles.
Despite her commitments, Usman expressed concern over the diminishing opportunities for women in governance, noting a significant decrease in female representation in the current Senate—only three women compared to eight in the 7th National Assembly. She labeled this trend a setback for gender representation in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Usman urged women voters to support female candidates in elections, as she lamented the trend of women often voting against each other at the polls. “Statistics indicate that women voters surpass men during elections, yet women candidates frequently face opposition from fellow women,” she noted, stressing the need for solidarity to advance women’s participation.
In her address, Usman called for prayers and support in her role as chairman, stressing that her achievements could inspire more women to pursue leadership positions. She encouraged women’s organizations to ramp up awareness campaigns to foster solidarity among female voters, asserting that “a vote for women is a vote for all women.”
Usman also acknowledged the unwavering support of Alex Otti for women’s leadership. Recalling her emotional response when the governor insisted she remain chairman, she expressed gratitude for his championing of women’s inclusion, particularly evident in his appointments in Abia State.
She urged women to back the Labor Party in upcoming elections, asserting that further electoral success would bolster the cause of women’s participation nationwide. Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Dr. Shonekan Rekiya commended Usman’s contributions to politics and governance, advocating for enhanced backing of initiatives aimed at ensuring the passage of the Women’s Special Seats Bill, alongside continued support for women’s empowerment and broader campaigns for gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
