There may be a reduction in the number of women who will come out to vote on November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State if the level of violence being reported in various parts of the state does not reduce.
A preliminary finding by the Gender Perspective and Social Development Center, the conveners of Stop Violence Against Women in Politics, STOP-VAWIP has shown.
The Centre revealed their findings during a media roundtable and briefing held in Awka.
Correspondent David Okpokwasili was at the round table and reports that
according to the Centre, their findings showed that a vast number of registered women voters interviewed stated categorically that they may not participate in the electoral process due to the cases of violence either witnessed, heard, or viewed on the media.
The Centre therefore called on all stakeholders, community leaders, government officials, political parties, and law enforcement agencies to unify their efforts to establish measures for the protection of voters and ensure that all perpetrators of violence are apprehended and duly prosecuted to deter further occurrence before and after the election.
It also advocated adequate measures to be put in place for the protection of the womenfolk during the election as according to the group, security agencies have not shown visible rescue mission after a violent attacks.
On what the Centre is doing to protect women against political violence, the representative of the Centre, Mr Emmanuel Ubajekwe revealed that the Centre in collaboration with their partners incuding the National Democratic Institute, NDỊ, and the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, decided to set up a toll free line through their Stop Violence Against Women in Politics, Stop-VAWIP campaign hub where they monitor and receive calls on the number 0-8-0-3-4-0-0-4-4-4-4 on issues relating to violence against women and facilitating a seditious response and intervention.
While the Centre encouraged citizens of Anambra State to come out and vote without fear of intimidation and abuse of voter choice and to report cases of violence in their communities and polling units, it also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to be unbiased and conduct a free, fair, and credible governorship election as the full participation of all registered voters including women and men will define a free and fair election in Anambra State.
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