The inclusion of women and people with disabilities in government in 2023 took center stage in Abuja on Wednesday as presidential candidates from some political parties presented their agenda to a coalition of civil society organizations and international partners.
Among them were the Labor Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; New Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso and Accord Party presidential candidate 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 promises by signing the Governance Agenda for an Inclusive Nigeria document.
The event also coincided with the public presentation of the GAIN document.
The event was organized by YouthHub Africa, the Inclusive Friends Association and the Women in Politics Forum, with support from the National Democratic Institute and the US Agency for International Development.
Saying there was no inclusion without women, youth and people with disabilities, Obi added that more women are needed in government as they are the most productive part of society.
“We cannot talk about the development of any society without being inclusive of all three, call them sectors. We cannot talk about development without women; we cannot talk about development without young people. We cannot talk about it, without people with disabilities, ”she said.
Kwankwaso, who was represented by his running mate Isaac Idahosa, told reporters that the NNPP had a “total package” plan for women in his government.
“Anyone who undermines women in government did so at their own risk. We have a lot, the total package for women,” she said.
NDI Director of Programs Bem Aga said the implementation and demand for accountability from the candidates who had signed the agenda was up to the public.