The one day event, put forward by Foreword Communications Limited, publishers of National Point Newspapers with support from the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Reporting, WSCIJ and Mac Arthur Foundation, had as theme, ‘Ensuring Electoral Accountability and Inclusive Governance.’
Participants included respected personality in the region, politicians, activists, persons’ with disability, women, youth, media and community leader from Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Edo states.
The highly interactive session, which, featured contributions from several key speakers, Persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) and female political candidates, left many with a renewed and redefined vigour with guides for ensuring inclusiveness and accountability in the Nigerian electoral system.
Chairman of the event, Prof Rose Aziza of the Delta State University enjoined the people to continue to speak out to ensure all is heard and carried along, especially, the women, youth and PWDs, in all policies, especially with regards to politics, education (formal and informal),etc.
A need for a violence-free and fair election was canvassed. To attain this, Prof Aziza harped on the need to build trust amongst the voters.
She restated that the experience of the 2023 elections should not repeat itself because, the distrust it caused could ignite violence stressing, that for trust to be there, the right atmosphere must be created to allow for a free and fair voting/election devoid of intimidation and discrimination.
Prof Aziza also pointed out historically, women are marginalized as they are seen as secondary objects, who often times, are given a few political positions such as deputy governors and vice chairpersons.
She said though these positions are commendable, there are tokens that do not reflect inclusiveness. She asked, “On second thoughts, why not make the process inclusive, where forms could be pegged at the reach of the women to come to contest for the presidential or governorship positions?”
She further noted that persons living with disabilities. PWDs, are disadvantaged in the country, even though they have made her proud at different levels and for a both locally, nationally and globally.
The Urhobo language expert and advocate called for the provision of braille, interpreters, runway (accessibility) at polling units, transportation, enhancement of PWDs’ source of living etc.
Suggesting the way forward, she advocated for dialogue, which she said, is key to living together, with everyone playing his or her part-voters, political parties, INEC, women, youth, PWDs, etc.
In his presentation, Prof G. Darah called for an end to the blame game, advising that Niger Deltans should conduct a self-appraisal of what has brought them where they are as all that transpired in the 2023 electioneering process.
He harped on the need for continuous Political enlightenment, Vibrant Media fireworks, to keep Governments on all levels on her toes.
He also observed, that, the greatest obstacle to creating an accountable government is the pegging of party forms at the level of the rich only. This, he said is known as glutocracy, a process he said must be done away with for credible election to happen and this should take into cognisance, the PWDs, and the poor in society.
Another speaker, representative of Stakeholder Democracy Network, SDN, a forefront NGO in the region, Ms Flora Aseri stated that the organization has trained quite a number of PWDs on reporting skills and mobilized them on citizen based campaigns in their communities .
According to her, SDN in conjunction with INEC and the 18 political parties, engaged a lot of the electorates on the Amended Electoral Act,2022.
Narrating their experiences on the field, female politicians spoke on intimidation, exclusion, violence and finance as obstacles.
Representative of the Labour Party governorship candidate of Rivers State, Hon Beatrice Itubo, Mrs Ayebare Irene (deputy state woman leader and LP state campaign director-general, Delta State) relayed that challenges she personally faced in the political arena include, intimidation from both sexes, thuggery, subservient role, sexual advances, threats, etc.
She also highlighted non- provision of aid facilities for PWDs at polling centers.
Commending her husband for his unwavering support which helped her overcome sexist attacks and encouraged the continuation of her political pursuit unhindered.
Irene urged women to support their kind because they also feel their pains better. She advised women seeking political office to be sure of their mission and avoid distraction as well as avoid any act that will give women in politics a bad name.
She berated INEC for failing the litmus test in the 2023 general elections.
