Women in Politics Forum (WiPF) has condemned the murder of the Labour Party (LP) Woman Leader Victoria Chintex, in Kaura, Kaduna state.
The Forum said that the killing was a deliberate attempt to discourage women active participation and seeks to determine, delay or otherwise influence engagement in the electoral process.
According to a statement made available to Journalists Wednesday in Abuja by the WiPF national president Ebere Ifendu, unknown gun men stormed her residence on Monday Night (28th November 2022) and shot her dead while her husband sustained gunshot injuries on the leg.
The statement demanded that the killers be apprehended and brought to justice as soon as possible, calling also for clear and active measures to be taken by the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to ensure that such acts are not repeated.
“Recent years have seen a lot of discussion about the need to acknowledge and solve the culture of impunity that encourages all forms of abuse.
“The unfortunate incident, along with numerous others in recent memory, point to a persistent issue with the way security agencies manage the country’s security situation,” the statement said.
“This issue also explains why the “UNKNOWN GUN” men boldly broke into VICTORIA CHINTEX’s home and shot her dead.Women are targets of Political Violence and this is a huge challenge towards women’s political participation,” it added.
The statement recalled that recently there has been an increase in various forms of violence against women in politics ranging from assassination, hate speech, blackmail, intimidation, cyber bulling, physical assault, destruction of campaign materials, sexual violence and others.
“At the last elections in Kogi State Mrs Abu was burnt to death in her home for choosing to participate in politics and this year another woman Victoria Chintex just paid the ultimate price. Nigerian women will not accept this ugly trend and demand that women and indeed everyone should be protected from violence.
The statement called on women, youth and PWDs to exercise their franchise at the polls and not sell their votes but rather use their PVCs wisely, calling also on all security agencies to be alert and ensure the safety of women in politics, pre and post elections.
“It is our political right to take part in the governance of our country directly or indirectly. We are also imploring on Nigerian women to not be intimidated and shaken by this ugly incident but to stand firm to ensure that our voices are heard.
There should be swift prosecution of Violence against women in politics and by extension women in general during the electioneering period. Security agencies needs to assure women in politics and Nigerian women as a whole of their safety pre and post the 2023 elections.
“Finally, we demand that all perpetrators of violence are arrested and adequately punished. All security Agencies should be more proactive to curb political killings. We call on Nigerians to UNITE against all forms of violence against women in Politics,” the statement stressed.
