Royal father declares support for RECEF’s move to end violence against women during elections

… to work towards increase women participation in elections.

The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman Okun Area Traditional council, HRH. Chief Sunday Dele Owoniyi, has promised to work with the Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation, (RECEF), in it’s campaign to end violence against women and to ensure effective women particition in elections.

The Royal father stated this on Wednesday in his palace in Kabba, when members of RECEF paid him an Advocacy visit, to inform him of it’s project, tagged, ‘Women’s Participation in Election as voice for Development (V4D) in kogi state.

He thanked the team for coming for the visit, adding that he was impressed with the goal and objectives of the campaign.

He stated that a lot of fears have been allayed by the amended electoral law, observing that the implications of some of its provisions will discourage and prevent electoral violence and thuggery during elections.

The first class traditional ruler listed some of the challenges that have impacted on the equitable participation of women in politics and elections to include; Poor level of education, Marital Inhibitions, Cultural Inhibitions and Financial Constraints.

The Obaro observed that the level of education among women can sometimes impact their ability to take advantage of available resources to equitably participate in elections and politics.

He however, expressed his support for the campaign, expressing hope to see more women bettered, so they can better participate in elections and politics in general.

During the visit, the Executive Director of RECEF, Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina presented an overview of the project tagged Women Participation in Elections A Voice for Development which has a campaign tag, ‘Women V4D’. Figure

Amb. Idris while highlighting the role of electoral violence in the voter apathy of female electorates, however said that the passage of the VAPP Law in Kogi State is a step in the right direction as it provides some legal framework to punish and forestall electoral violence during elections.

He noted that Section 26 of the VAPP Law deals with the matters of electoral violence.

In his vote of thanks, the Executive Director of the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), Hamza Aliyu observed that it was high time women were mainstreamed into politics and allowed to participate fully in elections.

He expressed joy over the support of the Obaro, stating that his support will greatly enable the achievement of the project goals and objectives.

RECEF is a non governmental, not for profit making, non religious and non partisan registered organization, established to improve the welfare of the people in the areas of legislative advocacy, health, education, vocational training, women empowerment and conflict resolution with focus on children, women, youths and other vulnerable groups.

The project is supported with funding from the Government of Ireland