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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Women for 35% Initiative of the AJU Morgan Elumelu Foundation has protested the impeachment of the Executive Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Mrs Alice Tangi Allen, describing her removal as a setback for women’s political participation.
Allen, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and sworn in on May 29, 2024, was the only female among the eight elected local government chairmen in the state.
In a statement signed yesterday by the founder of the foundation and convener of the initiative, Amb. AJU Elumelu, the group alleged that Allen had faced intimidation and political pressure over her refusal to defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group said it had monitored the situation and hoped that dialogue would resolve the matter, but expressed concern that it had eventually culminated in Allen’s impeachment.
It also raised concern over reports that Diepreye Rosline Yankee, a councillor and Leader of the House, had been sworn in as acting chairman of the council.
The initiative called on relevant authorities, democratic institutions, civil society and women’s organisations to scrutinise the development and ensure that the rights of elected officials were protected.
It urged all parties to pursue constitutional and legal avenues to resolve the matter peacefully and transparently.
The group said the intervention was not in support of either the PDP or APC, but aimed at protecting women’s participation in democracy and ensuring that elected female officials could exercise their mandates without political coercion.
It said the development highlighted the need to move the campaign for 35 per cent affirmative action beyond getting women into elective positions.
“The struggle for 35% affirmative action is not simply about getting women into political offices. It is about creating a political environment where women can enter, remain, lead and complete their mandates without intimidation or discrimination,” it said.
The group warned that the treatment of women who attain elective positions could either encourage or discourage the next generation of female political aspirants.
