The Gombe State chapter of the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to prioritise electoral reforms and expand women’s participation in the forthcoming elections.
The State Coordinator of WRAPA, Anita Dogo, told WikkiTimes that women in Gombe have historically recorded low participation in political activities, a trend that has deepened their marginalisation.
“Women rarely turn out during ward registration. This is why, from the primaries, female aspirants struggle to win because their fellow women are not adequately represented in the voter register,” she said.
She urged political parties and institutions to promote inclusivity, stressing that greater female participation in both elections and governance is a shared responsibility.
Ms Dogo also called on INEC to intensify voter education and awareness campaigns to enhance transparency and accessibility.
Reacting, INEC spokesperson in Gombe, Moherret Bigun, said the commission has already rolled out strategic sensitisation campaigns across the state.
“Just last week, we mobilised corps members and staff for voter education in strategic locations. Our Resident Electoral Commissioner has also appeared on several radio stations to sensitise the public,” he said.
According to Mr Bigun, INEC has so far received 83,895 applications in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise. Of these, 55,746 were pre-registrations, while 13,894 have completed their registration.
He added that the exercise will continue with plans to reach remote communities in the state.
