The inclusion of women and Persons Living With Disabilities in governance in 2023 took the centre stage in Abuja on Wednesday as presidential candidates of some political parties tabled their agenda before a coalition of civil society organisations and international partners.
Among them were the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso and the presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Prof. Christopher Imumolen.
But the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, were absent.
They made the pledges while signing the Governance Agenda for an Inclusive Nigeria document.
The event also coincided with the public presentation of the GAIN document.
The event was organised by the YouthHub Africa, Inclusive Friends Association and Women in Politics Forum, with the support of the National Democratic Institute and the United States Agency for International Development.
Obi who said there was no inclusiveness without women, youths and persons with disabilities, added that more women are needed in government, as they are the most productive part of society.
“We can’t talk about the development of any society without being inclusive of the three, call it sectors. We cannot talk about development without women; we cannot talk about development without youths. We can’t talk about it, without persons with disability,” he said.
Kwankwaso, who was represented by his running mate, Isaac Idahosa, told journalists that the NNPP had a “total package” plan for women in its government.
“Anyone who undermined women in government did so at his peril. We have a whole lot, the total package for women,” he said.
The Programme Director of NDI, Bem Aga, said the implementation and demand for accountability from the candidates who had signed the agenda, was up to the public.
