The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Osun State, Dr Olaleke Mutiu Agboke, has called for intensified advocacy for women participation in politics and voter registration.
He made this call during an advocacy visit by the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, to Osun INEC office, Osogbo on Wednesday.
Agboke while appreciating NAWOJ for taking up the gauntlet of advocacy, described the issues raised by NAWOJ as matters of concern to everyone and emphasised that INEC’s gender policy is inclusive and promotes collaboration and balance between both genders in the political space.
Highlighting the low representation of women in politics, the REC urged NAWOJ to step up its campaign efforts.
He said, “NAWOJ should start the campaign by increasing the tempo of engagement and bring the politicians to the table. I am encouraging the association to foster platforms where women are motivated to contest and participate actively in elections.
“Encourage women to come forward. Let them come even if they lose the election. We will continue to make women have a say and occupy positions of authority, but they must demonstrate capacity.”
On the issue of voter registration, the Osun INEC boss noted that many women lack Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, because they are not registered.
He reminded NAWOJ that INEC will commence its Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise on August 18, 2025 for online registration and on August 25 for in-person physical registration.
Agboke urged NAWOJ members to help pass the message to women across the state on the need to register, collect their PVCs, and turn out to vote, noting that participation is the first step towards influencing governance.
Earlier, the Osun NAWOJ chairperson, Abisola Ariwodola, commending INEC for its gender management policies, called for more priorities for women participation in politics, voter education and promotion of gender equality and inclusion
Ariwodola said, “NAWOJ has been at the forefront of campaigning for inclusion and fair representation of women in positions of authority at both federal and state levels through its activities and programmes.
The Osun NAWOJ chairperson also sought collaboration between INEC and NAWOJ to have a strengthened networking and partnership, strengthened institutional capacity and procedures, promote the civic right to life of women and the target beneficiaries via voters education and sensitisation, and contribute to improved quality of life.
