Barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that government must implement the 35 per cent affirmative action for women, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared free nomination forms for women aspirants for all elective offices in the 2023 general election.
But they are to pay the prescribed fees for expression of interest forms.
The nomination waiver covers all women aspirants vying for the party’s tickets to contest state and national assemblies, governorship and presidential seats. Women aspirants in the ruling party had hitherto enjoyed a 50 per cent discount for expression of interest and nomination forms.
APC National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, spoke yesterday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
She said: “Today, I have the permission of the great, very experienced, gender-sensitive chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to announce to the Nigerian women that APC as a party has provided a platform for them to run.
“One of the very strong points that the chairman promised when he took over is that he would mainstream women, he would give us a seat at the table, he would ensure that we continue to be a voice and continue to contribute our quota to the development of the country.
“And to further buttress that point that we belong to the ruling party, the largest party in Africa and we want to make a strong statement that we stand by inclusion and mainstreaming for women, the party has approved that women will be running on a free nomination form in our party at the next general election.”
The decision, Edu said, is meant to encourage all women aspirants against any form of limitations.
She urged Nigerian women to come to the ruling party to benefit from the gesture.