Male voters out-numbered female in 2015 – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said there were more men as against women during the 2015 General Elections. This was contrary to popular views that women voters outnumbered men during the elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this yesterday in Abuja at the 2019 General Elections Women Aspirants Summit, themed: “Working Together for 2019”, organised by the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF) Women Radio 91.7 FM and Women in Politics Forum (WIPF).
Yakubu, who was represented by the Head Gender Division of INEC, Mrs Blessing Obidegwu, said it is important for more women to actively participate in electoral activities especially contesting elective positions and actual voting.
“This has become imperative considering the marked decrease in the number of women who won elective positions since 2007, with 11 percent in 2007, seven percent in 2011 and 5.6 percent in 2015. Again, not only that women are not winning elections, available data in the commission show that in 2015 General Elections, only 44 per cent of female voters were accredited to vote compared to 56 per cent male voters. This is contrary to previously wide held view that more women came out to vote,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of NWTF, Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, said the summit was a mark of solidarity that Nigerian women if on equal level playing field with men could excel and contribute immensely to the advancement of democratic governance in Nigeria. President of WIPF, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, urged men to canvass votes for women, saying women had always been supportive of male political ambitions and that 2019 was the turn of women, hence the need for men to support them.