The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has initiated moves to woo more female voters given their numerical strength and has promised them more leadership positions in all levels of the party’s governance structure.
The party which had been in power for 16 years lost the last two general elections and appears set to broaden its leadership base ahead of the next elections in 2023.
Before now, women occupied an insignificant percentage of the party’s leadership positions as there was only one position for a female at the ward level of the party.
But according to Paul Ekpo, chairman of the party in Akwa Ibom State stated this in Uyo, the state capital adding that six out of the seventeen positions in the executive committee of the party at the ward level would be reserved for women in the forthcoming congress of the party.
Similarly, he said the party would also reserve 6 out of the 18 positions in the executive committee of the party for women at the Local Government level while 13 out of the 39 positions in the Exco would be reserved for women at the state level.
“It is the desire of our party to get more women involved in the process of leadership in our party. In accordance with the approved amendments to our constitution,” he stated.
According to the him, the party will also set aside 3 out of the 10 positions in the Exco for women at the Zonal level while 9 out of the 28 positions in the Exco will be reserved for women at the National level
He said: “Events and emerging realities in the past few years in our nation have only proven that our party, the PDP holds the assurance for the kind of people-centric leadership that our nation needs at this time.
“At all levels, our party will continue to strive towards producing men of credible character and competent standing to step into the task of providing purposeful leadership at all levels.”
Ekpo, who is stepping down as party chairman in the state after completing his tenure expressed sincere appreciation to all the stakeholders and members of the party who had continued to keep faith with the PDP adding that the faith and sacrifices have been the reason for the party’s successes.
He promised that the party would continue to “hold to produce responsible leadership capable of delivering democratic dividends to our people.”
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
