The International Women Communication Centre (IWCC) has launched a community mobilisation and advocacy campaign aimed at tackling voter apathy, vote buying and political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Executive Director of the centre, Dr Limota Goroso Giwa, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, explaining that the initiative was being implemented in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Giwa said the programme was designed to promote gender inclusion, increase women’s participation in politics and elections, and discourage electoral practices capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
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According to her, the campaign is currently being implemented in five local government areas in Kwara State — Baruten, Ilorin South, Edu, Moro and Kaiama — as well as five local government areas in Kogi State identified for special intervention to improve women’s political participation.
She explained that volunteers were being trained as community ambassadors to sensitise residents on gender inclusion, women’s political participation, voter apathy, vote buying and political thuggery.
The IWCC executive director added that the volunteers would engage traditional, religious, political and community stakeholders, organise town hall meetings and facilitate discussions on peaceful and inclusive participation in the electoral process.
Giwa stressed that increasing women’s participation in politics should go beyond voting, urging political leaders to create more opportunities for women to contest elections and occupy positions of responsibility.
“Women are as capable as men. We need to promote gender inclusion and ensure that women are given opportunities to contribute to governance,” the Executive Director stressed.
She also urged women to support one another, noting that the narrative that women are enemies of women should be discarded.
Giwa commended Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for giving women prominence in his administration through the appointment of women as commissioners and the emergence of several women in the State House of Assembly.
The Executive Director therefore called on other governors across the country to emulate the example, saying greater political inclusion would encourage more women to participate actively in elections.
The grassroots organiser identified sexual harassment and inappropriate physical contact at polling centres as factors contributing to voter apathy among women.
According to her, some women had complained of being touched inappropriately by men while standing in queues at polling units, adding that such experiences could discourage them from participating in future elections.
Giwa also described political violence as a major factor limiting women’s involvement in the electoral process.
She therefore urged mothers to discourage their children from engaging in political thuggery and vote buying.
On vote buying, Giwa called on Nigerians to reject the practice, arguing that politicians who offer money in exchange for votes were exploiting citizens’ economic challenges.
She said resources meant for the provision of hospitals, roads, employment opportunities and other public services should not be diverted into temporary inducements during elections.
“Vote buying is buying your future. The money they are supposed to use for governance, to build hospitals, provide good roads and alleviate poverty, they are going to give you a token rather than develop you,” the Executive Director said.
Giwa also urged Nigerian youths to become more active in politics and called on the current generation of leaders to deliberately mentor younger Nigerians and prepare them for leadership roles.
