Oyo State: Election body Promises To Support Women On Voter Education

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC has assured the Nigerian Women Trust Fund of maximum support in its bid to embark on continuous voter education among women, ahead of the April 27th , 2024, Local Government Councils Election in the state.

The OYSIEC Chairman, Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, gave the assurance while playing host to members of the organisation who paid an advocacy visit to the vommission’s Headquarters, Agodi, Ibadan.

Olagunju explained that having more women in elective positions in Nigeria would play significant roles in the development of the country.

He described the move by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund as a good development, reiterating the readiness of the commission to assist the organisation to achieve her goals and objectives.

He stated: “Let me inform you that we just concluded the screening for chairmanship and councillorship candidates of political parties in the next Local Government Councils election, and female candidates are not many.

“Your decision to embark on continuous voter education is a good development. The more women we have in government, the better. Let us know where to come in as a commission, and we will do the needful,” Olagunju promised.

More Women in Governance 

Earlier, in her remarks, the Programme Officer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Abuja, Oluwatoyin Omoyemi, advocated for more women in governance and support for women vying for different positions in the forthcoming Local Government Councils elections in Oyo State.

Omoyemi said the project tagged “Training of Trainers” was targeted at creating awareness among women in Oyo State to aid early preparations for the next Local Government Council election that women would vote massively on election day.

She hinted that twenty women, who would be picked randomly from twenty Local Government Areas and trained on voter education, would train other women in their communities in an exercise that she said would be continuous.

Omoyemi expressed optimism that the training would enable women to gain more insight into their right as voters.

“We are glad that OYSIEC is willing to support and work closely with us to make this happen despite the short notice. We have visited IPAC and gotten five political parties to work with. The Step-Down will start by January, 2024 and the basic requirements for participation are reading ability and good communication skills. 

“Our target is to have more women at the decision-making table, we want women to be at the front burner. We want to raise awareness so that women can prepare themselves for election and elective positions, and I hope Oyo women will rally round women vying for different positions,” Omoyemi concluded.

Confidence Okwuchi