First Lady of Benue State, Dr Eunice Ortom has stressed the need for women to be adequately equipped to face their male counterparts as the 2023 polls draws near.
Dr Ortom stated this while playing host to the Forum of Female Aspirants on the ticket of the ruling People’s Democratic Party PDP.
Mrs Ortom who was evidently overwhelmed with the number of female aspirants, noted that building capacity through strategic consultation is necessary.
She stressed that elections are won at the grassroots maintaining that, only female candidates who have shown that they are working with their people can garner the popularity to challenge their male counterparts during elections.
While calling on the aspirants to engage both female and male stakeholders in their localities, urged them to identify their strongholds as they appeal for a level playing field.
The wife of the Governor promised to continue to advocate women inclusion at the planning stages of elections advising the women to also concentrate their energies in areas considered as their strongholds.
The First Lady also appealed to the female candidates not favoured by zoning to support credible females favoured by zoning arrangements to succeed.
Earlier, State PDP Woman Leader Mrs Abeje Egwa called on women to shun pettiness, take advantage of their numbers and support credible female candidates favoured by zoning.
On her part, Former Speaker Benue State House of Assembly and PDP Board of Trustees member Chief Margaret Icheen appreciated the support of the First Lady towards ensuring that women are given their due in the current political space in the state.
The Forum for Female Aspirants consists of Candidates vying for all elective positions in the next political dispensation in state.
High point of the meeting was the contributions by some speakers lauding the First Lady for uplifting women to be part of the decision making process in the administration of her husband Governor Samuel Ortom.
