TheCable

Olayemi Oyebanji, wife of Ekiti governor, has lauded the high number of female candidates who clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets for the chairmanship and councilorship positions during the state LG primaries election.

Oyebanji spoke on Wednesday when she received the female candidates in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

She said seven female candidates secured the party’s ticket for the chairmanship position, 16 as deputy chairpersons and 33 councillors.

The Ekiti APC primary election for local government was held on October 4, while the main poll will be conducted on December 2.

The wife of the governor described the record set by the women as “unprecedented”, adding that the feat in the LG primaries election has made Ekiti the state with the highest number of female representatives in politics.

She told the female candidates to work on plausible manifestos that would prioritise women.

She added that they should also implement policies that would empower women and girls if they get elected during the polls.

“Having seven candidates for chairmanship positions, 16 for vice chairmanship and 33 for councillorship from the womenfolk by any party is unprecedented in the history of the state,” NAN quoted Oyebanji as saying.

“With the tickets won by the APC female candidates in the forthcoming local government election in the state, Ekiti now has the highest number of female representatives for political offices in Nigeria followed by Kwara.

“I told my husband to assist many of our women candidates to emerge from the primaries for the LG election and God has made it possible for us. The standard set by my predecessor, must not be allowed to drop.

“I want to urge our female candidates for the LG election that you must not disappoint the electorate if you eventually win the election, let there be more development in your areas and try to replicate what we are doing at the state level.”

She urged the female candidates not to disappoint the party, adding their good governance will pave the way for more women in elective and appointive positions.