Laraba MUREY
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu has disclosed that female aspirants seeking to contest within the party,will no longer pay for nomination and expression of interest forms. Edu added that this development was as result of actions by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu who has the interest of women in political growth. Edu made this known at a press briefing that was held in the party’s national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja.She said “Today I have the permission of the great, very experienced, gender sensitive chairman, senator Abdullahi Adamu to actually announce to the Nigerian women that APC as a party has provided a platform for them to run.“The party has gone ahead to approve that women will be running on a free nomination form in our party. “Before now we have women say we cannot afford the form, we are vulnerable, we are unable but now you have been given the platform with the greatest chance of emerging as a winner of an election because you will be running on the ticket of the ruling party.“The ball is now in our court, as women we must rise up. We are going into series of processes that will lead to the 2023 elections. We must come out, we must be actively involved”, she said.“This is our mandate. Be the support, be the strength. If a woman comes out to contest give them the support that they need, don’t pull them down.“I believe that together APC women, Nigerian women will deliver the 2023 elections across board. We must deliver APC in the general elections and every woman taking her place.Also expressing delight at the gesture,the National Deputy Women Leader of APC, Aisha Ibrahim, said,”This is a very great achievement for the APC leadership and my able leader in whose period this is achieved. It is also a first step in ensuring that we have more women in elected and appointed positions because it is only when women take part in active politics and governance that they take part in everything that concerns the nation. “We will support capable women that can run and win elections in 2023.” She added,”.
