The February 25 presidential and National Assembly polls saw the emergence of only three women senators-elect in the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 10th Senate.
An examination of the list of the female senators-elect showed that all of them are new members of the Red Chamber.
The three senators-elect are Labour Party’s Kingibe Ireti Heebah, representing the Federal Capital Territory; Peoples Democratic Party’s Banigo Ipalibo Harry, representing Rivers West, and Adebule Idiat Oluranti of the All Progressives Congress representing Lagos West.
In the past National Assembly terms, women have remained consistently underrepresented.
The Ninth Assembly which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated on June 11, 2019, is already winding up its activities.
Out of Parliament’s 469 seats, 109 Senators, and 360 members of the House of Representatives, women only occupy 21 seats; eight in the Senate and 13 in the House of Representatives in the Ninth Assembly.
The transition to the 4th republic in May 29, 1999, ushered in democracy and with it a new constitution, under which the current National Gender policy was promulgated.
This policy recommends that women be represented by at least 35% in both elected and appointed public service positions. One of such key offices is the National Assembly.
The 13 females for 10th House of Representatives are as follow:
1. Orogbu Obiageli – LP, Awkwa North/Awka South Federal Constituency
2. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara – YPP, Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency
3. Gwacham Mauren Chinwe – APGA, Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency
4. Ebikake Marie Enenimiete – PDP, Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency
5. Akume Regina – APC, Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency
6. Onuh Onyeche Blessing – APC, Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency
7. Zainab Gimba – APC, Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency
8. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake – PDP, Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency
9. Onuoha Miriam Odinaka – APC, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe, Onuimo Federal Constituency
10. Beni Butmak Lar – PDP, Langtang North, Langtang South Federal Constituency
11. Goodhead Boma – PDP, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru Federal Constituency
12. Bukar Abba Ibrahim Khadijah Waziri – APC, Damaturu, Gujuba, Gulani, Tarmuwa Federal Constituency
13. Fatima Talba – APC, Nangere Potiskum Federal Constituency
INEC Disobeys Court Order As Labour Party Is Denied Access To Inspect Election Materials
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of disobeying a court order by the Labour Party (LP), who claim they have been denied access to inspect the materials used in the recently concluded elections.
The national chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, made the allegations on Channels TV monitored by The Trent on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Abuja.
According to Abure, the party had obtained a court order from the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on earlier in the week, granting them the right to inspect the election materials used in the elections held on February 23, 2023.
However, despite the court order, Abure, a barrister-at-law, alleged that INEC had refused to grant the party access to the materials, citing logistical challenges and a lack of manpower.
“We are deeply disappointed that INEC has chosen to disobey a court order and deny us access to inspect the materials used in the elections. This is a clear violation of our rights as a political party and undermines the integrity of the electoral process,” Asuquo said.
Asuquo also called on INEC to comply with the court order and grant the party access to the materials, warning that the party would explore all legal options available to them if the commission continued to flout the court order.
“We demand that INEC complies with the court order and allows us to inspect the materials as soon as possible. If they continue to deny us this right, we will be left with no choice but to take legal action to protect our rights and ensure that the electoral process is transparent and fair,” he added.
The LP Chairman also called on civil society organizations and other political parties to join the party in condemning INEC’s actions and defending the integrity of the electoral process.
Efforts to reach INEC officials for comment on the matter were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
Source: The Nation
