Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
The Borno women in politics have vowed to overcome the challenges of winning various elective positions at the Federal and State levels in the 2023 general elections.
According to the women political forum, they are optimistic of overcoming the challenges of women to win elections in the state.
While unveiling the candidates’ political optimisms, over the weekend (Sunday), in Maiduguri, Fatima Abubakar, a gubernatorial candidate on the platform of Action Democratic Party (ADP), disclosed that; “Sixteen female candidates have been fielded to contest for various elective positions on the platforms of eight political parties.”
She said that the elective positions to be contested for include Governorship, National and State Assembly elections in Borno state.
Other party platforms for the female candidates to contest elections comprise Accord Party (AD), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) at the federal and state levels.
She added that there are also three other political parties on which the Borno female candidates are to contest the elective positions.
“They include, the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Alliance Party Movement (APM), and the Action People’s Party (APP),” stating that they may surprise the major parties of female candidates sweeping the 2023 polls in the state.
Several female candidates also expressed their optimisms on the sidelines of a meeting organised by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in Maiduguri, the state capital.
“We are going to win most of the elective positions in the 2023 general elections,” they declared.
The female candidates noted that this was despite the social, economic and cultural factors and other challenges of winning elections since 1999.
“We’re, therefore, optimistic about winning the elections despite the challenges facing the female candidates for over two decades,” the candidates insisted at the meeting centre.
Fatima told The Guardian that she joined the gubernatorial race to address the plights of women and youths in the state.
She disclosed that she is the only female among the 13 governorship candidates vying for the seat of Governor in the state.
“I’ve the aspirations and strength to change the sordid narratives of womenfolk to be encouraged to continue contest elective positions in the state,” she said.
The governorship hopeful commended her husband and other family members for their morale boosting support.
She said that the lack of funds for electioneering campaigns has been a major obstacle to her political ambition.
Her words: “The full support of my husband and parents keep me going to clinch the Governorship seat in Borno state.”
Zam-Zam Abbas, a deputy governorship candidate of the ADC, also said that she has been contesting elections since 2007.
“I will not relent,” she declared before the female candidates.
According to her; “Women need to sustain their full participation in politics no matter the outcome of election results.”
She noted that one day the female candidates will make it, as the 2023 general elections hold in barely two months.
While assuring the female candidates, she said: “We require only confidence and perseverance to make it at the polls.”
Ramatu Sheriff, a Borno central senatorial candidate on the platform of ADC, said she joined the senatorial race to make a difference among the womenfolk.
She said: “Some are criticizing my candidature of being a married woman. But I will not be discouraged of the obstacles to contest any elective position in the state.
Besides, she added that; “I got support from my brothers, parent, and husband who is coaching me on how to face crowds and address them confidently during the electioneering campaigns,” Sheriff said.
Maryam Tijani, another senatorial candidate on the platform of AD, said she contested the House of Representatives election in 2019.
She stated that her contest for the senatorial seat, was to prove her perseverance and resilience to the general public, irrespective of their gender and financial capabilities to contest elections.
Similarly; Aisha Adamu, contesting for Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza federal constituency election on the platform of SDP, said she defeated four men to clinch the party’s ticket.
She declared that; “My ticket is a popular one in the state.
“Our people know me as a humanitarian worker. They donated posters for my electioneering campaigns.
“I have already campaigned in Damboa and the outing was successful. However,
“I will attract more women to vote for me in the constituency, despite miscreants’ attack during the campaigns.”
On her part, Aisha Nyako, a candidate for Maiduguri State Constituency on the platform of YPP, pledged to provide quality representation to the people, if elected.
She said that she would work with colleagues of like minds in the State House of Assembly to sponsor a bill to address unemployment and the menace of street children.
The Borno women in politics forum comprises Hajiya Tanko Dada, the APD candidate for Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge federal constituency, Hauwa Abubakar of the ADC candidate for Jere federal constituency, and Zainab Ali, the candidate for Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) Borno state constituency on the platform of APM.
End.
