JUST IN: APC Women Oppose Tinubu’s Nomination of Two Male Candidates from Same State

The Women and Youth Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has voiced strong objections to the recent appointments of two male leaders to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Members of the council gathered at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, holding signs with messages such as “Men Are Not Compassionate Enough to Run the Humanitarian Ministry,” “We Say No to Women Discrimination,” and “Humanitarian Ministry Is Not for Political Compensation.”....Read Full Article>>

Led by convener Jennifer Raymond, the group argued that the appointments of Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and Chief Ayuba Gufwan as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for People Living with Disabilities, both from Plateau State, do not align with the federal character principle. They called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider these nominations for the sake of inclusivity and fairness.

The council emphasized that appointing two male leaders from the same state undermines both gender balance and regional representation, especially in a ministry tasked with addressing critical humanitarian issues and poverty alleviation. The council expressed concerns that the absence of female leadership may overlook the unique perspectives and needs of groups most affected by crises, including women and children.

“Selecting male candidates from the same state disregards the federal character principle intended to ensure equitable representation across Nigeria’s diverse regions,” Raymond stated. She added that inclusive leadership in the Humanitarian Ministry is essential for effective and contextually relevant responses to Nigeria’s pressing humanitarian challenges.

Highlighting research showing that organizations with gender-diverse leadership perform better in crisis situations, the council argued that the Ministry’s leadership should reflect Nigeria’s demographic diversity to foster innovative solutions and more impactful humanitarian responses.

“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to uphold federal character in his appointments by selecting a competent woman with a proven track record in humanitarian initiatives to occupy a key position in the Humanitarian Ministry,” Raymond concluded.