•Agboola Ajayi
The National Woman Leader of the Peoples Party (PDP), Mrs Falilat Darasimi, has called on women voters in Saturday’s governorship election not to compromise their conscience in the election.
Darasimi, who was in Akure, Ondo State capital, to mobilise different women groups for the candidate of the party, Hon Agboola Ajayi, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, urged the women to “vote your conscience,” reports Nigerian Tribune.
Darasimi and the Ondo State Woman Leader of the PDP, Hon. Kemi Adesanya, however, distributed food items to the women groups, saying the palliatives would go a long way to cushion the effect of hunger in the state.
Speaking in Akure, the state capital, ahead of the final rally of the party, Darasimi said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was mobilising money to buy the conscience of voters on Saturday’s governorship election.
She warned the women not to collect money from the ruling APC to compromise their conscience, saying the money collected on election day would not feed them for the next four years.
According to her, the PDP’s candidate has promised the women a 35 percent appointment if elected as governor—nothing that it is when they get to the office that their aspirations can be actualised.
Similarly, former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, emphasised the role of women in Saturday’s election and said it cannot be wished away as their future and that of their children are at stake.
Tambuwal said, “We are to support the national woman leader of the PDP. This election is very important, and the role of women is more than important.
“If women give you their words, you can go to sleep. The women are ready for PDP and Agboola Ajayi.
“They are here with tonnes of money. Take their money and vote for PDP. It is our money; it is the money of the people.
“They have impoverished the people. Edo people voted for the PDP. They won’t do that in Ondo State.
“Remind them they cannot take Ondo and that it is the people who will decide their governor.”
The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, said the PDP is the only party that gives women a place in government and assures the women of 35 per cent affirmative action if elected as governor.
Damagun said, “We have seen the situation where women are neglected. Any man who does not have a woman can’t run the affairs of the state.
“Go back to your houses. When they bring anything, resist them. Our candidate has said he is ready to transform Ondo State. I know Ondo State is resilient. They will protect their votes. Please vote and defend your votes.”
Adesanya, in her response, said the women present are the structures of the party at the grassroots level. She said they needed to sensitise them before the election
She said the candidate had promised the women a lot. She added that the women would have a pride of place if they voted for Ajayi, the party’s candidate.
