PORT HARCOURT CITY HOSTED A SIGNIFICANT SOUTH-SOUTH ZONAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Port Harcourt City hosted a significant South-South Zonal Legislative Interactive Session by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, in partnership with the UN Women. The event took place from 18th to 19th July 2024 with the theme “Legislation, Women and Elections in Difficult Terrain: (Beating the Odds)”.

Members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral matters, made up of Senators and House of Assembly members

This interactive session provided an opportunity for women, young people, professionals, political parties, and other election stakeholders from the south-south region to be in the same room with legislators to discuss issues related to electoral processes, particularly focusing on women and fostering a more democratic society amidst challenging conditions. The outcome of these discussions will be part of the input, insights, recommendations, and basis for reforming the Electoral Act 2022, contributing to shaping a more inclusive and transparent electoral framework.

Interactive session is ongoing

This two-day event housed special dignitaries from both private and public servants. A welcome address was made by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters – Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli and the Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters – Honourable Prince Adebayo Balogun. They encouraged women to support each other and to mentor younger women who are interested in politics. A keynote address was received by the partners, who called all stakeholders to make meaningful recommendations as this is the first of its kind.

From L-R is CHHELD representative with 3 legislators

A special address and flag off of the event was received by the Executive Governor of Rivers State – His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) –Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo. The Governor applauded the committee for recognizing the inputs of stakeholders especially women. He promised to create an enabling environment for women participation in Government and encouraged everyone to deliberate meaningfully.

Representative of the Rivers State Governor – SSG Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo (standing at the middle) being flanked by legislators, commissioners, heads of agencies and parastatals.

On his part, the clerk of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters reiterated that the aim of this interactive session is to provide a platform where the people can dialogue with their Senators and Honorable members of the House of Representatives, on electoral matters, adequate representation and participation of women in governance and politics in Nigeria. There was a panel session where opportunities were given for stakeholders to make contributions and recommendations. Some of the issues highlighted are related to discrimination against women in politics, poor voter registration system, fixing meetings at odd hours, no punitive measures for electoral defaulters, militarization of elections in the south-south, high rate of vote buying, and analog voting system.

With the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters – Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli (standing at the middle)

In response, the members of the Committee encouraged women to start politics from the grassroots, to translate their words into actions, and be determined to participate in elections proactively. They also promised to consider some of the issues raised in the reform of the Electoral Act 2022 and pledged to take action based on the recommendations. In their words “together we can make a difference.

The Rivers State Governor ably represented by the SSG and the legislators pose for a photograph with women representatives

CHHELD contributed to this vital conversations and advocating for positive change by making some recommendations to the National assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters including; conduct of all elections on a single day, transparent INEC Chairman and State Resident Electoral Commissioners recruitment process and not by appointments, continuous voter registration, electronic voting systems, and diaspora voting.

Women representatives from Rivers State

 

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