By ibrahima Pima
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for the political inclusion ofjr marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PwDs), in Nigeria.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC, made this statement during a two-day advocacy visit to political parties in Kaduna on Tuesday. He emphasized that political parties are essential to Nigeria’s democracy, serving as platforms for candidates and as channels for public engagement with governance.
Represented by Solomon Adoga, Senior Programme Officer at CISLAC, Rafsanjani discussed a study conducted by the Kukah Centre, supported by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance (EU-SDGN). This research identified a significant need for better inclusion of marginalized groups within political parties.
Rafsanjani noted that while political parties have structures such as women’s leadership offices and youth representatives, true political inclusion requires more than these measures. It demands effective processes that enable participation beyond just contesting elections.
He cautioned that the absence of internal democracy and broad citizen participation can lead to distrust in party processes, unpopular decisions by a few, lack of accountability, and political violence.
The acting state Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC), Honourable Abdullahi Sani, and the state Chairman of the Labour Party’s Caretaker Committee, Elder Yusuf Danbaki, both underscored the need for increased awareness to empower citizens to make informed choices. Danbaki suggested that Labour Party’s inclusion policies extend beyond CISLAC’s recommendations, advocating for awareness of other marginalized groups.
Comrade Rahi Rufai, state Vice Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), noted that despite limited resources, the PRP accommodates all societal segments and had significant youth participation in the 2023 elections.
Reflecting on the recent Kaduna State local government elections, Sani urged political parties to stop using youth as political thugs and encouraged them to engage constructively in politics. He called for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECOM) to enhance democracy.
Danbaki remarked that recent events indicate the poor are gaining ground against electoral rigging, but he warned that if political leaders continue to manipulate results from their offices, it could lead to disastrous consequences.
Rufai lamented the current state of democracy in Nigeria, particularly regarding local government elections, asserting that the events of October 19, 2024, did not reflect a true democratic process. He expressed concern that widespread voter apathy could lead to governance without public consent.
He affirmed the PRP’s commitment to collaborate with CISLAC to promote societal change, emphasizing the party’s message of “Redemption.” The CISLAC team plans to host a political summit for all parties in Kaduna State to further the cause of inclusion.
The party leaders acknowledged the value of CISLAC’s advocacy visits in promoting participatory democracy in Nigeria.