LG Poll: Don’t Sell Your Votes, Kaduna Residents Urged

• The public domain which GAT and other NGOs have been working hard to change the narrative of women’s exclusion in politics

As Kaduna residents go to the polls to elect Local Government Chairmen in the state’s 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) have urged them not to sell their votes.

GAT and IFES, at a press conference presided over by GAT’s Executive Director, Dr Lydia Umar, told the electorate that whoever buys their vote will want to recoup the money once in office.

She also urged all voters to protect their votes by assisting security officers in ensuring that no one snatches ballot boxes and that votes are counted right at the Ward level.

While lamenting low participation of women in politics, she said: “The situation of women in political participation since the inception of Democracy in 2019 leaves much to be desired. The trend shows that although women and young people constitute over 67% of voters during general elections and over 80% during LGA elections, but they have hardly occupied above 3% of democratically elected positions.

“Appointive positions have been better with women about 50 50 in the Executive Council in addition to having a female Deputy Governor.

Researchers have shown that this is not due to lack of effort, but many other obstacles many of them (systemic, cultural and violence) that are well known in the public domain which GAT and other NGOs have been working hard to change the narrative of women’s exclusion in politics.

“GAT and IFES therefore call on all to get ready with their PVCs to exercise their right to vote at their Ward tomorrow.

“GAT and IFES call for all voters to ensure a peaceful election by being orderly on the cues, allowing the aged, the pregnant women, suckling mothers and People with Disability to be given priority.

“We need not just a free, fair and credible election but a peaceful one Pre, during and after announcing the results.

“GAT and IFES call on all voters to protect their votes by supporting security officers in ensuring that no one is allowed to snatch ballot boxes and that counting of votes take place right from the WARD level.

“GAT and IFES call on all voters to resist selling their votes as that may spell doom for them in the coming years. This is because whoever buys their vote would want to recope that money back once he/she gets to that office.

“GAT and IFES call on all Election Officers to be professional, diligent and honest. GAT and IFES call on the media to be conflict – sensitive in their reportage Finally, in line with the overall goal of the GAT/ IFES project to increase women in elective positions.

“GAT calls on all Men (He4She) and women (She4She) to vote in women candidate and offer them an opportunity to contribute to the running of the Local Government Areas side by side with men.”