From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The International Women Communication Center (IWCC), has commenced a grassroot campaign aimed at reducing voter apathy, vote buying and political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Dr Limota Giwa, disclosed this in Ilorin, Kwara State, saying the initiative was being implemented in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Giwa said the campaign was designed to deepen gender inclusion, increase women’s participation in politics and elections, and discourage practices capable of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.
She said the programme was currently being implemented in Baruten, Ilorin South, Edu, Moro and Kaiama Local Government Areas of Kwara State, as well as five local government areas in Kogi State identified as requiring special attention to improve women’s political participation.
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According to her, volunteers are being trained as community ambassadors to sensitise residents on gender inclusion, women’s participation in politics, voter apathy, vote buying and political thuggery.
She said the volunteers would also engage traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians and other community stakeholders, while organising town hall meetings to promote peaceful and inclusive participation in the electoral process.
Giwa stressed that women’s participation in politics should not be limited to voting, urging political leaders to create more opportunities for women to contest elections and occupy positions of responsibility.
“Women are as capable as men. We need to promote gender inclusion and ensure that women are given opportunities to contribute to governance,” she said.
The IWCC executive director also called on women to support one another and reject the narrative that “women are the enemies of women”.
She warned against attempts by politicians to divide women for political advantage, noting that greater solidarity among women would strengthen their collective voice and influence in governance.
Giwa commended the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for what she described as his efforts to give women prominence in his administration through the appointment of women as commissioners and the emergence of several women in the State House of Assembly.
She urged other governors across the country to emulate the development, saying increased political inclusion would encourage more women to participate actively in elections and governance.
She further disclosed that the organisation was strengthening collaboration with security agencies to promote peaceful elections and address security-related concerns that discourage women from participating in the electoral process.
According to her, the centre had visited the Kwara State Police Command and was planning engagements with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She added that the organisation had also engaged the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kwara State and other stakeholders in Kogi State, on measures to improve citizens’ participation in elections.
Giwa identified sexual harassment and inappropriate physical contact at polling centres as some of the issues discouraging women from voting.
She said some women had complained of being touched inappropriately by men while standing in queues at polling units, warning that such experiences could discourage affected women from returning to exercise their civic rights.
She also identified political violence as a major factor keeping women away from the electoral process.
The activist therefore urged mothers to discourage their children from participating in political thuggery and vote buying.
On vote buying, Giwa called on Nigerians to reject the practice, arguing that politicians who exchange money for votes were exploiting the economic hardship faced by citizens.
“Vote buying is buying your future. The money they are supposed to use for governance, to build hospitals, provide good roads and alleviate poverty, they are going to give you a token rather than develop you,” she said.
She also called on Nigerian youths to become more actively involved in politics, urging older leaders to deliberately mentor and prepare younger Nigerians for leadership.
Giwa, however, advised youths to demonstrate patience and willingness to learn from experienced leaders, warning that failure to prepare the next generation for leadership could undermine Nigeria’s future.
She commended the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, describing him as a “silent achiever” whose emphasis on collaboration and synergy with stakeholders would help strengthen electoral participation.
According to her, partnerships between INEC, civil society organisations and grassroots groups such as IWCC were necessary to adopt a bottom-up approach to tackling voter apathy, improving women’s participation and deepening democratic engagement at the community level.
Giwa is a grassroots leader and a member of the Governing Council of the Huairou Commission, a global movement of grassroots women’s organisations representing nearly one million women in poor urban, rural and indigenous communities across the world.
