Women and physically challenged persons in Plateau State have expressed concern over poor representation in Saturday’s local government elections across the state.
The concerned persons told Benue/Plateau Trust that with the manner by which the elections have always gone, it has always been in favour of the male folks and core politicians, rather than those at the grassroots especially women and the physically challenged persons.
Pastor Margaret Inusa, who was the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) for the 2019 governorship, said the representation of women in politics in the state is generally discouraging.
She said even in the state House of Assembly, it is only one woman that is there, adding that the unwillingness of the political class to politically carry the women along has been discouraging the women.
She said to her knowledge, the Saturday’s local government elections do not have any woman standing in for a chairmanship position, except for the vice chairmanship position.
Inusa said the trend must be changed in order to ensure fairness, equity and honest inclusion of all and sundry in political participation.
On his part, a visually impaired person in the state, Amanyi Obeya, said the issue of their non-inclusion in politics has been disturbing over the years and that they have been doing all they could to address it but without success.
Obeya said the physically challenged in a way are much closer to the society and grassroots because of their unique condition, adding that should they be allowed and supported to emerge in elective positions, they will definitely make it up to the society because of their close ties.
He called on the authorities to establish enabling regulations that would be favourable and easier for them to participate in electoral process, as well as to be able to vote and be voted for.
