A coalition of Plateau women and youths groups has procured the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form for Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Pauline Tallen to contest the state’s Southern Senatorial seat.
The seat is held by Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, who was Head of Department of French at the University of Jos until she contested a bye-election late 2020.
It is not clear if the 69-year-old academic, who is also a member of the APC, will be running for a second term.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Mrs Felicia Bala, who presented the form to the Minister on Saturday in Abuja, said the groups met and decided to procure the form without Tallen’s knowledge to encourage her run for the seat.
Bala said that the Minister’s records and commitment to the development of women and children prompted the move.
Also, Mrs Juliana Soklam, who represents Langtang North in the groups, expressed appreciation to the Minister for her support to widows and less privileged in the state and nation at large, while Mrs Anthonia Homkwap described the minister as a dynamic woman and supporter of women at the grassroots level.
Representing Wase Local Government Area, Hajiya Amina Adamu-Gyanba reiterated the commitment of women and youths towards achieving success in the 2023 election.
Youth Leader, Nr Nanzing Nanle, while commending the Minister for her supports to youths in the state, assured her of continued support towards getting the Senatorial seat.
While receiving the form, Tallen said that Nigerian women were faced with many challenges and stressed the need for more women representatives in governance.
She said that it was only when women were involved in politics that the issues of women and children could be tackled.
“Women have suffered enough and they are still suffering because we have no voice, the number of women in the National Assembly is like a drop in the sea.
“We succeeded in having one voice there. But unfortunately, there have been terrible threats to her life and that has made her to withdraw.
“My plan and prayers is to ensure we retain that seat and for any man who wants to displace a woman, the few we have is unacceptable.
“What you have done is a big surprise to me, I have been under pressure, I had no plans until when it was clear that our sitting senator was not ready to return”, she said.
Tallen added: “I call for your prayers to salvage our senatorial zone, save our children, our state and nation at large.
We have been praying and advocating for more women to be added to the few we have in the National Assembly”.
She reiterated her commitment towards uplifting women and addressing their challenges both at the local, state and national level, adding: “It is time for a call to action, I sincerely appreciate you all and by the grace of God we will succeed and I will never fail you”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Civil Society Organisations and leaders representing LGAs in the Senatorial zones were also present at the event.
