Politics

2023: Militarisation, Monetization Identified As Threat To Women Participation

Published

4 years ago

November 17, 2021

As the 2023 general election draws closer, monetization and militarization of politics including ignorance have been identified as factors militating against women getting into political offices despite their numerical strength in voting.

The 1st Vice President, League of Women Voters in Nigeria (NILOWV) , Iyom Josephine Anenih, stated this in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Wednesday while addressing journalists on activities to mark the group’s 25th anniversary.

Flanked by former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. (Mrs) Elizabeth Ativie, State Chairperson, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and other state and local leaders of the group, Anenih said there was need to change these narratives ahead of the 2023 elections.

She disclosed that NILOWV had been networking with bodies that share similar ideas across the country to spring a surprise.

She further disclosed that the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, is expected as the keynote Speaker in its annual conference that would culminate in the election of new officers for the association.

She said: “We need to change the mindset of our people and it is only through education that this can be done and you know that the press is to mould minds; to mould opinions and to change mindsets.

“So, we are appealing to you to put in more efforts because what is happening is just ignorance and patriarchy that is being fuelled and sustained by ignorance.

“That women hate themselves is a tool created by men for women to be used against women to divide us and disorganise us, and you know that everything happens from the mind.

“The men have made politics look as if it is just a man’s stuff so when they see a woman coming, it is the man that will say all sorts of things against the woman that is coming out.

“In elections, how many females do you have as candidates and how many women have the financial muscle? You know that politics has been so monetized and militarized in this country so, how many women have the strength and the army of boys to stand against the violence they perpetuate during elections? How many women have the deep pocket to match them but we have examples of women who have proven their mettle and they have jumped past the hurdles men put before them.”

Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.