NAWOJ urges INEC to prioritize voter education for women in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Osun State chapter, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intensify voter education and support women’s participation in the electoral process ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Osun State INEC office in Osogbo, NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Abisola Ariwodola, urged the commission to prioritise sensitisation programmes targeting women and girls, noting the low level of female representation in the state’s political space.

“We urge the body to educate women on their voting rights and the importance of participating in elections, as well as train young girls and women to accelerate progress,” she stated.

Ariwodola, who led other members of the association, commended INEC’s gender policy but stressed that there is still a significant gap, especially in Osun, where no woman currently holds an elective seat in the State House of Assembly or National Assembly.

In his response, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to implementing its gender-sensitive policies and upholding fairness in the electoral process.

Agboke challenged NAWOJ and other stakeholders to step up grassroots advocacy and mobilise more women to actively participate in politics, not just as voters but also as candidates. “Women must move from passive roles to active engagement in the political process,” he said.

He announced that INEC will begin Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Osun State from August 18, 2025, via its online portal, while physical registration will commence on August 25 across all 30 local government areas of the state.

The REC urged women to take advantage of the opportunity to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that participation begins with voter registration.