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Osun state chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ has lauded the State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC on its level of preparedness over the forthcoming local governments election in the state.
This is as the women led organization advocated inclusion of women aspirants, as women grassroot political representatives for the February 2025 local governments election across the state, to the commission.
The association also partnered Osun State Independent Electoral Commission OSSIEC on its electoral campaign against Cyber-crime, Cultism and Drugs, acronym as 2C-D
The disclosure was made by the NAWOJ executives led by Comrade Abisola Ariwodola during the courtesy visit to the Osun state Independent Electoral Commission OSSIEC Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye on Tuesday.
The NAWOJ Chairperson affirmed that Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ is the professional journalists, female wing of the NUJ, the voice of women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, the vulnerable and the marginalised in the society, alongside their role of informing, educating, enlightening and advocating to relevant stakeholders for the target beneficiaries.
Ariwodola asserted to the OSSIEC Chairman, the importance of inclusion of women aspirants in the forthcoming polls, adding that the campaign is brought to OSSIEC as the Apex body for the local governments election, for stakeholders to embrace the 35% affirmative, while in tandem with global standard of gender equality by organizations and international body.
NAWOJ commended the OSSIEC Chairman Hon Hashim Abioye and his Commissioners for being proactive in their duties at the State Independent Electoral Commission, and lauded the transparency and level of preparedness of the commission on tbe local governments electoral processes.
While declaring the resolve of the association to partner OSSIEC on its election process, she clamored for female aspirants to be included in the grassroot political affairs, by emergence at party primaries to represent the women in various posts across the local governments in the state.
The Chairperson pointed out that Osun State is a model among Nigerian states, appreciated the impactful initiatives of Governor Ademola Adeleke, and his providing an enabling environment for OSSIEC to function without interference.
Speaking further, she highlighted Osun state as a state with youths elected and appointed at some of the helm of affairs, as Ambassadors of the not-too-young-to-run, and she called on political gladiators in the state to embrace women inclusion in political elective posts, by having women as Chairmen and Councillors.
In his address, the OSSIEC Chairman, Hon Hashim Abioye, assured residents of hitch-free, credible and fair local governments election in the state, appreciating NAWOJ for the women inclusion advocacy, he added that the decision of approval and selection of female aspirants for the forthcoming local governments election, lays on the party leadership, and the political party which an aspirants hails from.
Barrister Hashim maintained that OSSIEC is an electoral umpire, obligated to conduct local governments election, verify candidates documents submitted by their political parties, and to educate, monitor and guide the political parties through the electoral process.
Speaking on the level of preparedness of the commission to conduct the February 2025 election, the Chairman assured NAWOJ of hitch-free, credible, fair and transparent election process, and reiterated media coverage duty on election activities, for dissemination and news to the people of Osun state.
The OSSIEC Chairman used the medium to congratulate the newly inaugurated Abisola Ariwodola-led NAWOJ executives, embraced the collaboration with the leading women organization, and partnered them on OSSIEC 2C-D Election Campaign, against Crime, Cultism and Drugs.
Osun NAWOJ participants of the courtesy call on OSSIEC Chairman include: the state Secretary Ranti Ojewumi, Assistant Secretary Anu Odedeji, Financial Secretary Olayemi Olojede and members of the association.