Laraba MUREY
A coalition of women leaders who played active roles in the 2023 presidential campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have cried out over what they describe as complete exclusion from the current All Progressives Congress, APC,-led government.
The women, under the umbrella of the Women’s Wing of the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, said they worked tirelessly to mobilize grassroots support across Nigeria and feel “used and dumped” by the administration.
Speaking on behalf of the 95 representatives of more than 1,000 Tinubu/Shettima support groups, during a Press Conference in Abuja, Hajiya Rekiya Abdullahi said the group feels abandoned, despite its sacrifices during the campaigns.
“These women worked tirelessly, sacrificing time, resources, and personal well-being to ensure the success of our party, the APC, and the victory of our President, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Rekiya said.
She said not one member of the women’s PCC team has been considered for federal appointments, recognition, or engagement.
“Two years into this administration, these women feel neglected, ignored, and sidelined. This is unacceptable. Some of us lost loved ones or personal resources during the campaign,” she added.
The women also stated that they stood solidly behind the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during the campaign, touring several states to mobilize women voters.
Rekiya said the feeling of abandonment is killing morale ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are no longer inspired to go from door to door as we did in 2021 and 2023. It is not encouraging to tell our members to work again for a government that hasn’t remembered us.”
The coalition urged President Tinubu to remember the women at the grassroots who helped him win and warned that continued silence might affect mobilization and loyalty going forward.
“Democracy must be inclusive and rewarding, especially for those who labored for its triumph. We’re not saying everyone must get an appointment, but at least some recognition or engagement is fair,” she stressed.
The group also reminded the APC that women form the bulk of the electorate and should be treated as partners in progress, not spectators.
“We don’t want to be just cheerleaders. We want to be part of the decision-making and development process,” Rekiya said.
The women concluded with a call to the APC to correct what they see as a growing disconnect between the presidency and the grassroots campaigners who stood by it during difficult times.
