Why Are Women Not Contesting 2015 Elections In Cross River State? (1)

The political scene has been dominated by male folk even more than before. Though generally in Nigeria, women make a poor list when it is time to contest elective posts, the past few years were beginning to lookup. More women were ready to slug it out with the men until it looks like the gradient is slumping right back.

Many continue to ride solo on the political terrain often leading to a few weak positions being cast at women through appointments, after they have secured more authoritative and lucrative positions.

In the current administration of Sen. Liyel Imoke, women were bulldozed into the scene exactly at a political stage like now, a feat which saw many of them winning unopposed at the positions contested for, thus the current apathy is puzzling to political watchers and I decided to do a little research into the immediate past 2013 Local Government elections.

In that process 4 women clinched the chairmanship ticket of the PDP out of the 18 aspirants, a number that is an improvement from the previous situation where only one of the 18 outgoing chairmen was a woman.

For the available 18 positions of running mates to the chairmanship candidates of the party, women clinched 15 tickets.

Also, from the total number of 197 councillorship seats in the state as at the time, 56 women secured the party ticket for the election as against 22 who previously served.

The exploits of these women over men were resounding.

While there were claims that only a few of the female flag bearers could be considered to have paid their dues in partisan politics. Providence smiled on because they were adopted as consensus candidates by their respective local government party caucuses who were either directed or persuaded to adopt a “preferred” choice. Briefly we would look at why the sudden change and a possible peep at a woman who has set unbeatable records from the State.

 To be continued…….