NDC Woos Women, Youths With 50% Form Fee Cut, 25% For PWD

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced sweeping concessions on nomination and expression of interest forms for women, youths and persons living with disabilities.

The party said the initiative forms part of its broader commitment to building an inclusive political culture where every Nigerian, irrespective of age, gender or physical condition, is given an opportunity to participate actively in governance and democratic leadership.

The disclosure was contained in a statement on Friday, issued by the National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, who stressed that economic barriers and social disadvantages should not prevent capable Nigerians from seeking elective offices.

According to him, “the fact that someone is young and may not be a money bag or is disadvantaged by some physical disabilities should not shut him or her from contributing their quota to nation-building”.

The party maintained that women in particular have continued to face cultural and structural limitations that hinder their participation in politics and governance.

Enekweizu said, “Women, due to cultural and other inhibitions, have also been largely receiving the short end of the democracy stick. They, therefore need some form of affirmative action to give them the needed push to participate and contest”.

The NDC further argued that excluding women from active political participation would amount to denying the nation the contributions of nearly half of its population.

He added that the party believes Nigeria risks undermining its democratic growth if women are not adequately represented in the political process.

Under the new arrangement announced by the party, all female aspirants contesting on the platform of the NDC will pay only 50 per cent of the approved costs for both the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms currently being sold by the party.

The same 50 per cent concession, according to the statement, will also apply to aspirants between the ages of 18 and 35 years.

For Persons Living With Disabilities, the party approved a deeper reduction, allowing them to obtain the forms at just 25 per cent of the official fees.

The statement explained that forms for presidential, governorship and National Assembly positions would be available at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, while aspirants seeking seats in State Houses of Assembly are expected to obtain theirs from the respective state offices of the party.

The NDC said the policy underscores its determination to encourage broader participation in the democratic process and dismantle long-standing barriers that have limited access to elective positions for many Nigerians.

Source: INDEPENDENT https://independent.ng/ndc-woos-women-youths-with-50-form-fee-cut-25-for-pwd/