The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has called for a review of gender policy and total inclusion of women in the planning and implementation of electoral processes.


Deputy Director, Gender Division, of INEC, Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu made this known at a Seminar on the Review of INEC Gender Policy by External Stakeholders, in Lagos.


She said that in many countries all over the world, women continued to be marginalised and under -represented in the political and electoral processes noting that major steps needed to be taken before true gender equality will be achieved.


According to Mrs. Obidiegwu, it is important that Election Management Bodies, EMBs intentionally and proactively take gender into account in the analysis and implementation of all electoral processes adding that Nigeria is a signatory to several regional, international protocols and conventions on the protection of the rights of women, including guarantees of equality of access, particularly in the area of politics.


Also speaking, the Lagos state Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Sam Olumekun, said the need to address gender issues in the context of democratic governance and pursuit of gender equality had been on the front burner of the commission.


Mr. Olumekun said that the establishment of Gender division at INEC national headquarters and Gender desks in all states showed that the commission is striving to ensure the visibility of women in the electoral process.