As political parties prepare for participation in the by-election underway in Akoko North East and North West Federal Constituency, Ondo State, the National women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Dr Mary Alile, has appealed to the party to concede the party’s ticket to the womenfolk.

Alile made the strong appeal on Monday in a press statement she personally signed and made public, addressed to the leaders and members of the party, particularly the leadership of the party in Ondo State.

In her words: “I hereby appeal to the leadership and entire members of our great party, the APC, in Ondo State, and, in particular, the Akoko North East North & North West Federal Constituency, to seriously consider nominating a female candidate for the Constituency’s by-election.

“This is deriving from my avowed commitment to promoting the interest of the womenfolk and advocacy for gender equity within the APC and the Nigerian political landscape. I conscientiously made this request, having observed the virtual non-representation of women among those elected in 2023 in the 2023 general election, to represent Ondo State at the National Assembly.”

The National chairman emphasised that the leadership of the party is strictly monitoring situations in all the state chapters of the party to identify those that are not gender friendly in their political considerations, saying “We are equally geared up for the task of such challenging situations. I once again called on the APC in Akoko North East and North West to give a woman a chance to contest the forthcoming Federal Constituency By-election and to represent them at the House of Representatives.”