Members of the defunct All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Campaign Council have expressed dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments, accusing him of sidelining the women who played a pivotal role in his electoral victory.
The spokesperson of the women group, Elizabeth Ofuani Otunbalogun, who made this known yesterday in a press briefing in Abuja, expressed concern over what she described as a lack of gender inclusivity in the president’s administration.
Otunbalogun said despite contributing significantly to the APC’s success in the 2023 presidential election, the women have been largely ignored in the appointment of key government positions.
She claimed that the president’s actions contradicted his promise to increase women’s participation in governance to at least 35 per cent, as outlined in the National Gender Policy of 2006.
“The President has made several appointments since taking office, but women have been grossly underrepresented.
“Our research shows that in 2023, only 12 percent of the appointments made by the President were women. In 2024, the figure remains dismal, with just 12 out of 99 appointments being women,” she said.
The APC women also criticised the president for not fulfilling his campaign slogan, which encouraged supporters to deliver results from their polling units in exchange for appointments.
According to them, the women’s wing, which was instrumental in mobilizing voters, has been used and dumped.
The women appealed to President Tinubu to address the 18 percent deficit in female appointments and to ensure that future appointments reflect the 35 per cent gender inclusion promised during his campaign.
“We demand that the President look into the defunct APC Women Campaign Council and pick women to fill the balance 18 percent deficit in the appointments made so far.
“This is crucial for correcting the anomaly and ensuring women’s participation in governance,” she added.
They reiterated their commitment to holding the government accountable for its promises on gender equity and inclusivity.