By Ibrahim Muhammad
Women groups in Jigawa State have called for increased female participation in politics, urging political parties to guarantee equal representation of women in both elective and appointive positions ahead of the 2027 general election.
The call was made by the State Coordinator of Danmodi Mata Zalla, Hajiya Maryam Muhammed Abubakar, during an event organised by the Lautai Progressive Citizens Forum to honour four political appointees in Gumel Local Government Area on Sunday.
Hajiya Maryam expressed concern over what she described as the low level of women’s participation in politics in Jigawa State, despite efforts by the state government to promote gender inclusion through policies and programmes.
According to her, the Danmodi/Tinubu Mata Zalla initiative was introduced to enlighten and mobilise women to actively engage in political activities and contest for elective positions in future elections.
“Women constitute between 65 and 70 per cent of the voting population. We are the majority, so there is no reason why we cannot contest and win political offices,” she said.
She described the period leading to the 2027 general election as a golden opportunity for women in the state, assuring aspiring female politicians of collective support from women groups and the backing of Governor Umar Namadi.
Hajiya Maryam commended Governor Namadi for ensuring 30 per cent women inclusion in political appointments and policies, as well as for initiatives such as free girl-child education and women empowerment programmes aimed at promoting self-reliance.
“I also want to use this opportunity to thank the governor on behalf of women in the state and call for more inclusion and consideration for women,” she added.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lautai Progressive Citizens Forum, Alhaji Aminu Haruna, said the event was organised to celebrate and congratulate some indigenes of Lautai who were appointed into various positions at the federal and state levels.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi for what he described as exemplary leadership, assuring that the forum would reciprocate the gesture by mobilising grassroots support ahead of the 2027 elections.
The forum also received over 2,000 members of opposition parties, including the ADC, PDP and NNPP, who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the event.
