Campaign expenses: Deliberate strategy to exclude women?

As the 2023 election year draws nearer, Nigerian women are gearing up for a better outing that may bring them at par with their male counterparts in terms of occupying political positions, however, recent events appear to be working against their interest, ENE OSHABA writes.

Women representation in elective and appointive positions since the return of democratic rule in 1999 is at an all time low.

Consequently, a lot of strategies are being explored, after the last general elections in 2019 till date, to increase the number of women representatives.

Though, women now actively participate in politics both in vying for positions and generally at the polls, however, not much has been achieved in terms of the number of women in elective and appointive positions.

Fears have expressed that recent developments including the inclusion of clauses that increase the limit for campaign expenses being added to the amended Electoral Act would further reduce women’s number given the poor financial strength of most women to compete favourably with men in the country’s money-driven politics.

Part of efforts to push for more representation of women has led Nigerian women to carry out different measures from voicing out their demands to staging peaceful protests at the National Assembly.

In fact, in December 2020 women alongside other stakeholders and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) dragged the federal government to court demanding more inclusive governance in Nigeria. The litigation continues with the hope that a milestone on the interpretation of the laws on women’s inclusion in leadership and decision-making positions in Nigeria’s governance process would be achieved.

This is as the National President of the 100 Women Lobby Group, Mrs. Felicia Onibon, has maintained that amendment of existing laws was the way out.

Addressing during a press conference in Abuja, on the theme: National Strategic Advocacy on Women’s Participation in Politics and Governance: 2023 A New Dawn for Women’s Voices,” the woman leader maintained that policies, Acts and provisions that support affirmation for women participation must be amended in order to enable meaningful development of the nation.

Setbacks

Many factors have been attributed to be responsible for the poor number of women representatives at both the federal, state, and local government.

While many experts have blamed patriarchal nature of most African societies for the poor showing of the women folk in politics, money politics has remained top on the list, even with the establishment of a National Gender Policy by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The establishment of the INEC gender policy was lauded by various stakeholders with hope raised towards positive change in the agitations by women; however, the high cost of elections is ironically like a sprinkling of salt on fresh injury.

Emerging challenges

It is a widely held belief that the best way to ensure a free and fair election is through electronic voting and transmission of votes, hence individuals and groups are doubling advocacy to ensure that only electronic voting process was used in the upcoming general elections.

Similarly, in the final version of the proposed Electoral Act amendment Bill, the limit for campaign expenses was increased from N1 billion to N15 billion for presidential election; N2 billion to N5 billion for governorship election; position N40 million to N1.5 billion senatorial election; N30 million to N500 million for House of Representatives; and N10 million to N50 million for House of Assembly election.

Speaking on the development, Onibon expressed dissatisfaction at the high cost of campaign expenses, maintaining that the move was a deliberate action to exclude women from the upcoming 2023 polls.

“This is highly unacceptable by Nigerian women for its potential to exclude women from the political space. How many women can fund their political ambition if this is finally passed into law,” she queried.

She urged the INEC and all political parties to rather ensure that the achievement of Beijing convention which stipulates 35 per cent affirmative action for women at all levels of leadership and governance which Nigeria is a signatory to.

“INEC and the political parties should review the Code of Conduct for political parties to enable the achievement of a 35 per cent representation for women and other vulnerable groups.

“Political parties and candidates should make specific commitments to women, Persons with Disabilities and other vulnerable groups as part of their respective election manifestoes.

Political parties should adopt the principle of ‘twinning’ to ensure gender parity in the designation of available elective and appointive positions,” she urged.

Demands

In the light of various suggestions and recommendations that can ensure the increase in the number of women representation at decision making levels, the women lobby group has demanded for urgent attention to be paid to Bills still lying at the National Assembly.

Onibon noted that the Constitution review, Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, and many others if considered and passed into law would go a long way in addressing the plights of women, girls and children across the country.

She stressed that the 1999 Constitution needed to be conveyed in gender-neutral and sensitive language.

“The use of ‘he’ is gender-biased and undermines women and girls’ participation in public and private spheres, further hindering inclusive governance in Nigeria.

“The reviewed Constitution can create an enabling legal environment and reinforce norms that promote gender equity,” she explained.

“The Constitution of Nigeria must ensure equitable women representation in government through a minimum of 35 per cent women representation in elective and appointive offices at the federal, state and local government levels.

“As stated in the 2018 Statistical Report on Women and Men in Nigeria, women have continued to experience limited opportunities in all facets of politics and leadership positions in Nigeria, despite recognizing the importance of women’s political empowerment within the framework of the SDGs.

“Women, especially young women and young women with disabilities, face significant barriers. Change must begin with the highest law of the land, which is the Constitution. We can serve as an example for gender equity in West Africa and the world by guaranteeing 50 per cent of our Constitution,” she argued.

The gender advocate further called on the National Assembly to pass the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill and the Sexual Offences Bill into Law, where some States have passed it already.

“Ministries, Departments and Agencies should think through provisions that can elevate women’s economic status without being gender bias.

“We also call on the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to be more proactive in dealing with the security issues claiming innocent lives every day in the country where women and children are the most hit.

“The 100 Women Lobby Group demands gender parity in political representation both in parliament and at every level of governance in Nigeria,” she stressed.

Expectations

“The Lobby group amidst all advocacies expects that the rights of women and girls to be explicitly recognized and guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution.

“Without explicit provisions in the Constitution, laws and policies developed to address women’s issues – such as gender-based discrimination and gender inequality, will be ineffective.

“In particular, we are concerned that the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and other Bills to increase women’s participation in politics are given urgent attention in the National Assembly,” said Onibon.

“The Constitution of Nigeria must ensure equitable women representation in government through a minimum of 35 per cent women representation in elective and appointive offices at the federal, state and local government levels.

“Change must begin with the highest law of the land, which is the Constitution. We can serve as an example for gender equity in West Africa and the world by guaranteeing 50 per cent of our Constitution,” she added.