A non-governmental organisation, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), has called on security agencies and community leaders to ensure the security of women and guarantee their safety while exercising their franchise during the November 16, governorship election in Kogi state.
This was contained in a communiqué signed by the executive director of CPI, Eunice Agbogun at the end of a one-day dialogue session with security agencies, community leaders and political parties.
The dialogue session was organised in partnership with National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the communiqué was made available to newsmen Sunday in Lokoja.
The NGO said it was important that all relevant stakeholders in the electoral process got involved before and during the campaign to nip in the bud, issues of violence against women in politics.
It said the approaching off-cycle governorship election had charged the political atmosphere in the state, adding that the need to put mechanisms in place to protect women in politics become necessary.
The communique said there was need for effective collaboration between security agencies and citizens in the area of prompt, adequate and correct information to enable quick response.
It also urged security agencies to revisit their election day security strategies, taking into consideration the needs of women voters with special attention to the need of women, Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD) and other vulnerable groups on the election day.
The CPI called on political parties to make conscious effort at promoting the aspirations of women within their folds and critically address the phenomenon of vote buying if women must effectively compete in the democratic space with men.
It urged political parties to run issue-based campaigns, adding that there was need for an elaborate and structured mentorship programme for young women politicians to promote inclusive politics in the state.