Female politicians and gender advocates in Kaduna have called for increased inclusion of women in elective positions, following the conclusion of political party primaries.
The women made the appeal on Wednesday in Kaduna, expressing concern over persistent structural barriers limiting female participation in politics.
Munira Tanimu, the only female House of Assembly member in Kaduna and the Assembly’s Majority Leader, described women’s participation in the primaries as encouraging. She won her ticket for another term under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and urged all political parties to strengthen affirmative action measures.
“Women are committed to serving, and political parties should support them,” she said. “They are no longer content with playing supporting roles. They are stepping forward to contest and lead. Political parties must support this momentum.”
Comfort Amwe, a former assembly member representing Sanga constituency, noted that the outcome of recent primaries reflected the challenges women continue to face, including financial constraints and the influence of political godfathers. “We must continue advocating for reforms that will make the political environment more inclusive and accessible to women,” she said.
APC women’s leader in Kaduna, Maryam Suleiman, expressed satisfaction with women’s participation but stressed the need for sustained mentorship and political education. She encouraged women to build strong political networks and participate actively at the grassroots level.
Legal practitioner Naymarie Musa urged political parties to move beyond rhetoric and provide practical support, adding that the inclusion of women in leadership is essential for democratic development and good governance.
Former senatorial aspirant under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Tinok Andrew-Nok, called for stronger collaboration among women across party lines to advance gender inclusion. Similarly, Grace Yakubu, coordinator of the Kaduna Women Advancement Initiative, said more work is needed to achieve meaningful representation and urged stakeholders to intensify advocacy for gender-sensitive policies.
Women’s rights advocate Aisha Ibrahim noted that women’s participation remains below expectations and appealed to stakeholders to address structural barriers limiting their political engagement. (NAN)