By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo.
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A non Governmental Organization, Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC) has berated the rate at which women were threatened by political thugs during the just concluded gubernatorial election in Osun State.
According to JDPMC about seven recorded incidences were received from Citizens and Stop Violence Against Women In Politics Community mobilisers across the state.
It would be recalled that JDPMC, a Faith-based Charity, Non-Political, and Not-for-profit organization set up a Stop-VAWIP Case Tracking and Response Center to ensure women’s participation in politics.
Addressing newsmen at a press conference held at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp NSCDC headquarters in Osogbo, Osun State capital, the JDPMC Programme Officer, Veronica Ene Onoja, said there was a reported case that women were prevented from voting for the candidate of their choice by suspected thugs.
“A total number of incidents such as preventing women from voting for the candidate of their choice by political thugs, inducement, vote-buying and selling among others.
“Party agents influencing women’s choice, disruptions of polling units destruction of women and men’s ballot papers after casting of votes were recorded.”
JDPMC however commended the women for turning out massively just as it lauded the professional conduct of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and secured elections by the security agencies, such as NSCDC, police and other security agencies.
“Women’s turnout was very impressive compared to 2018 election due to the professional conduct by Independent national electoral commission.”
It however, appealed to the newly elected governor of Osun state to sustain and consolidate efforts on the implementation of Osun women policy and youth agenda.
The programme was organised by Justice Development And Peace Makers Centre in collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and vote not fight campaign team and it aimed at developing comprehensive and sustainable response mechanism for survivors of violence against.
