Nigeria Women Calls For Free And Fair Elections

Eniola Olayemi

Mrs Idayat Hassan, the Director Center of Democracy and Development, has called on stakeholders to ensure that the general elections are devoid of violence

Hassan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2019 National women peace rally on peaceful elections, tagged “Women for Peace”.

She said that the nation needed a peaceful place to live in after the Feb. 16 and March 2 general elections.

“We are calling people to vote in peace and to ensure that the elections end in peace in accordance with electoral laws.

“We should tell our families , husbands, children and friends that violence is not encouraged or accepted in these elections,” she said.

Hassan noted that women were at the receiving end because their husbands and sons could be victims of thuggery during elections

According to her, the rally is an avenue to encourage people to cast their votes in peace in accordance with electoral laws.

She also said that the rally was a call for women to participate and use their huge numbers of over 41 per cent of the population to participate more in politics.

Mrs Ebere Ifendu, President, Women in Politics Forum, also called on stakeholders, the Nigeria Police Force, Independent National Electoral Commission and others to ensure that the elections were peaceful, free , fair and violence free.

Ifendu said that women were ready to vote but needed to be assured that they would not be violated and their children would not be used as political thugs during the elections.

She further said that the women were using the forum to seek for free passage to go and exercise their rights and demanded that electoral guidelines should be followed during the general elections.

Ifendu, however, noted that women could use their number to determine who would be elected as a leader but were uncomfortable because of the heated polity.

She further said that the rally was to sensitise women to participate and vote massively in the elections, adding that stakeholders should make it possible to happen.