Last weekend’s governorship election in Osun state that saw an incumbent governor lose at the poll has been described in some quarters as litmus test for 2023 general elections. In this report, ENE OSHABA examines the level of gender mainstreaming in the election and hope it portends for Nigeria women.
Over the years the need to give equal opportunities to every citizen as it concerns their rights to life, education, health, social life, and most especially active political participation which involves voting and being voted for at elections.
Gender advocates have continued to stress the importance of women participating actively in governance and national building in order to have a say in what is happening the society.
For the National President, Women in Politics Forum (WiPF), Barr. Ebere Ifendu, gender mainstreaming in politics can be measured with various parameters including the turnout of women during elections either as contestants or as voters.
“At a polling unit in Erin Osun, the female male voters ratio is in favor of the women so far. We repeat, political participation is not restricted to contesting elections alone. Special appreciation to the women of Osun state for coming out to vote,” said Ifendu while monitoring last weekend’s governorship election in Osun state.
The election was tested with the gender lenses by different advocacy groups and gender experts including the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria), WIPF, Nigerian Women Trust Fund amongst others.
These groups had a pre-election check and post-election checks to ascertain the level of involvement of women and persons with disabilities.
FIDA pre-election findings
A pre-election statement by FIDA noted that residents of Osun state were to exercise their franchise at 3,763 polling units within 332 registration area centers across the state.
The election was the second conducted following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 with attention hinged on the Independent National Electoral Commission (Electoral Management Body) performance in administering the polls.
The statement noted an upsurge in the number of registered voters with an increase from 1.6 million at the last gubernatorial elections in 2018 to about 1.95 million presently, indicating that more residents were engaging in the political process and have taken advantage of the continuous voter’s registration towards ensuring that their votes count at the polls.
Expectations for women
The female lawyers expressed hope that the election management body would work with its 2018 framework on access and participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process and the provisions of the Disability Act 2019 towards ensuring effective and seamless participation of persons with disabilities in the elections through the provision of magnifying glasses for persons with low vision and albinism.
The group during its monitring of the poll, therefore, looked out for the use of braille for persons with visual impairment and provision for priority voting for persons with disabilities, nursing mothers, pregnant women, the aged/elderly and other vulnerable groups at the polling units.
“We expected that the increase in registered voters would translate to more voters especially women and Persons With Disabilities (PWD) participation at the polls,” the group stated.
The 2018 governorship elections in the state recorded only 696,007 voters representing about 43.5 per cent of the total voting population who exercised their franchise. Expectation was that the increased voters’ awareness and continuous voters registration therefore means more women would participate actively which would transcend to an increased voter-turn-out at the polls.
Level of Participation
According to FIDA, priority voting for vulnerable, marginalized persons was closely monitored.
“FIDA Nigeria observes that persons with disabilities, the elderly/aged, pregnant women and nursing mothers were prioritized in the voting process by INEC Adhoc Officials.
“Our observers reported that PWD were prioritised in at least 56 per cent of the polling units. While only 32 per cent of the polling units provided special kits for PWDs, however, 68 per cen of the polling units didn’t; 80 per cent of the polling units prioritized pregnant women, the elderly and nursing mothers. For instance at polling unit 004, ward 10, Ife Central LGA, nursing mothers, pregnant women and PWD were prioritised thus exercising their franchise speedily.
“At polling unit 003, ward 1, Olorunda LGA, pregnant women and elderly were prioritised by electoral officials. Furthermore at Polling unit 23, Ward 5, Oshogbo LGA, pregnant women and the elderly were prioritized accordingly.”
The statement further disclosed that at polling unit 12, Ward 2, Ife North LGA, only PWDs were prioritized while at Polling Unit 02, Ward 4 , Oshogbo LGA, there was no preference for women, the aged and persons with disabilities.”
Similarly, the NWTF GEW observed that generally at the polling units, there was remarkable turn-out of voters at the polls, adding that aged women were also sited coming out to vote.
“The enthusiasm demonstrated by the aged is commendable. On priority voting and access for women and persons with disabilities, the conduct of the election with the implementation of the INEC guidelines on priority voting was observed in several polling units. Aged people, pregnant women, nursing mothers and PWDs were given priority attention to cast their votes.
General assessment
According to the NWTF GEW, Many women especially the elderly turned out to vote, adding that a significant number of PWDs were sighted at some of the polling units.
“There was one act of violence reported by NWTF GEW observers, but the election was generally peaceful. Voter inducement was covertly and overtly done by party agents,” the further noted.
2023 expectations
FIDA in view of its pre-election, preliminary and post-election observations/findings during the election, recommended that there was the need to deepen the electoral process in Nigeria ahead of the general elections in 2023
“INEC prosecution of electoral offenders reported to have committed any form of electoral offense in contravention to the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We observed that only 32 per cent of the polling units as reported had in place special kits for persons living with disabilities however 68 per cent of the polling units did not have any such provisions. Based on this findings, INEC should put in place the electoral needs of persons with disabilities to aid their full participation in future elections in Nigeria.
“This can be achieved through, for example, the provision of adequate sensitive materials such as braille for voters who have visual impairments. Train and retrain electoral officers and ad-hoc staff to enable them to deliver services that are adequate to the changing needs of the electorates in Nigeria,” the group stated.
“For future elections in Osun state and given the persistent below-average voter turnout in the last two governorship elections (2018, & 2022), we urge INEC to embark on high-level dialogue with key stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders towards encouraging the participation of more female electorates, PWD, and citizens in general, in exercising their franchise at subsequent elections,” the women lawyers further stated.
Similarly, the GEW urged INEC to sustain its inclusivity drive to reflect its policy on inclusion and build on this gains achieved in Osun state to have 100 per cent functionality of the BVAS in future elections.
“The INEC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), CSOs and other relevant stakeholders should continue to sensitize the citizenry on their rights to exercise their civic duty and shun vote trading.”
NWTF GEW expressed satisfaction on the turn out of the electorate, especially women, in the Osun governorship election, stating that it was impressive and a good sign of better chances for women in upcoming elections.
