A Non-Governmental Organisation100 Women Lobby Group has lauded the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), for granting waiver to female candidates in the July 24 Local Government elections, not to pay stipulated fees to contest for the positions
The State Electoral agency in line with provisions of the electoral law of the state, announced the payment of the N200,000 and N100,000 non-refundable Nomination Fee deposit for Chairmanship and Councillorship aspirants respectively.
The State Coordinator of the group, Prof. (Mrs.) Olubunmi Ashimolowo, who gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the Commission, said the move would no doubt lessen financial burden and encourage women to actively participate in the 2021 Local Government elections in the State, noting that OGSIEC has displayed high sense of regard for the female gender.
“As a women advocacy organisation, we have been carefully monitoring events and agencies that consider women substantially in their programmes, and we cannot but commend OGSIEC for this laudable step”, Dr. Ashimolowo said.
She stated that OGSIEC has helped in ensuring that the organisation’s dream of engendering a society where equity, equal opportunity for all, gender justice, access to health, quality education, as well as good governance were entrenched, adding that the group canvasses for participatory resolution to solve socio-political and economic challenges and inclusion in the 2021 Local Council electoral process as observers, to help ensure transparency and accountability.
Chairman of OGSIEC, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu in his response, explained that the Commission’s decision to waive payment of non-refundable nomination fee was not just because it is a gender-sensitive body, but also to help women folk overcome the many challenges in the society.
His words, “We want to encourage participation of women in the elections, in order to take part in governance, and be at the forefront of leading our nation. However, the Commission will strengthen mechanisms for the inclusion of women as observers, and we are ready to carry you along in all our stakeholder’s meeting"
The OGSIEC’s boss restated the Commission’s commitment to ensure robust monitoring and evaluation, to achieve a free, fair and credible election process, appreciated them for their interest in ensuring that women’s right is protected,
He advised the group to further lobby political parties, to consider more women participation in politics, as OGSIEC does not meddle into intra-party matters.
Earlier speaking, a Commissioner in the Commission, Mrs. Gbemi Onasanya maintained that the present administration is gender-friendly, assuring that OGSIEC would accord the group the much-needed support, in its quest to expand the horizons of its members
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