The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has joined the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) to demand the protection of women during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking during a National Dialogue on Preventing Violence Against Women in the 2023 general elections on Friday in Abuja, Tallen said that women were faced with a lot of challenges particularly in the political season thus the need for them to stand together and support one another.
“We have a role to support and protect these women because women are the most vulnerable and better leaders, they have the mothers’ hearts to make things happen.
“On behalf of all Nigerian women and the female candidates, I am making a passionate appeal that we owe it a responsibility to ensure that these women are protected,” the minister urged.
Tallen encouraged women to be strong and fully armed ”because the struggles continue.
“Those that have registered to monitor these elections, you should have the fear of God to protect the vulnerable and ensure that each vote is counted.
“We should not fold our hands and allow these women to be phased out because if women are not on the decision table, the country won’t work, “
Tallen said that women were faced with a lot of challenges particularly in the political season thus the need for them to stand together and support one another.
“We have a role to support and protect these women because women are the most vulnerable and better leaders, they have the mothers’ hearts to make things happen.
“On behalf of all Nigerian women and the female candidates, I am making a passionate appeal that we owe it a responsibility to ensure that these women are protected,” the minister urged.
Tallen encouraged women to be strong and fully armed ”because the struggles continue.
“Those that have registered to monitor these elections, you should have the fear of God to protect the vulnerable and ensure that each vote is counted.
“We should not fold our hands and allow these women to be phased out because if women are not on the decision table, the country won’t work.”
On her part, the President, WIPF, Ebere Ifendu, said the dialogue was a continuation of the meetings with security agents and candidates ahead of the elections to look for ways to tackle violence during elections.
She said; “Women are mostly hit when there is violence and you can see that our situation in Nigeria today is very pitiable and scary and everyone is feeling it.
“The level of violence is something we need to address, we have an election in a few days and a lot of things are happening.
“INEC themselves are crying, over 52 INEC establishments had been destroyed, so it is something that should be of concern to everyone living in Nigeria, especially the government and security agencies.
“This is the reason we are here today with all our stakeholders to talk about what steps we are going to take to ensure that the elections are free from any form of violence.”
