Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to implement the resolution of the party to reserve 40% of councillorship positions to women as candidates of the party in the October 19 local government election in the state.
Governor Ododo made this known at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Lokoja on Tuesday.
The Kogi State Governor also applauded the decision of the APC in the state to nominate women as Vice chairmanship candidates in the 21 local government areas in the state as well as nomination of elected women councillors as council leaders in all the local government councils of the state.
Governor Ododo who noted that his administration is committed to consolidating on the achievement of the former governor Yahaya Bello on the attainment of the 35% affirmative action for women in elective position in the state said the APC in the state will continue to give more opportunities to women in appreciation of their loyalty and support for the party at all levels.
The Governor also called on the leadership of the party to engage in wide consultations with stakeholders to produce candidates that will represent the party in the 239 wards and the 21 local government areas, stressing that the APC must avoid imposition of candidates ahead of the local government election.
Governor Ododo assured the people of the state that the local government election will be peaceful, free and fair.
Governor Ododo who commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his timely interventions in critical sectors at the subnational level, noted that the judgement of the Supreme Court on Local Government Autonomy is a relieve for his administration as the state Joint Account Committee now has no jurisdiction over the local government fund, stressing that fund meant for local government areas from the federation account allocation committee will now go directly to the local government areas in the state.
