Women under the umbrella of Aggrieved Women of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, have threatened to boycott the 2019 general elections over alleged exclusion of women in the list of candidates for various elective positions and irregularities during the primary elections.
They say their aspirations have been truncated by the exorbitant fees collected for the nomination and expression of interest forms by the National Working Committee (NWC).
Addressing journalists at the weekend in Benin, the women’s coordinator, Dr. Aisosa Amadasun, alleged that 10 women from the three senatorial districts of the state were denied tickets in spite of the sacrifices and huge resources committed into the project.
She said the bizarre manner in which the party primaries were conducted without recourse to equity, justice and fair play had not only enthroned ‘god-fatherism’ but exposed the party to crisis.
She also alleged that out of the 24 candidates for the state House of Assembly, no woman was given ticket, adding that the protest was as a result of the failure of the party leadership to resolve their grievances.
Amadasun said before the emergence of the current NWC, the party granted waiver to women to encourage them in contesting political positions.
She said the NWC under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole subjected women to harrowing experiences by charging exorbitant fees for nomination and express of interest forms.
They appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to take pragmatic steps to redress the injustice done to their members, saying proper reconciliation remained sacrosanct to guarantee victory for the APC.
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