News

April 6, 2011

Women in purdah vow to vote

Kano – Some women in purdah  say they will exercise their right to vote during the general elections in order to contribute to the enthronement of good leadership in the country.

The women told the News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) in Kano  that they would embrace the challenge if their husbands allowed them to participate in the three slated elections.

Malama Barira Sani, a house wife, said she was determined to vote in all the elections, adding that she would however seek the consent of her husband.

“You know  that as  Muslim women, we  have to seek for permission from our  husbands to go out. So, that is the only snag  that can set me back, although my husband encouraged me to vote in  the previous election,” Sani said.

Female voters (with men) at Keffi, Nasarawa State during Saturday botched National Assembly election.

Salma Aminu, another young woman in purdah, said her husband  witnessed the conduct of   the botched  National Assembly poll, especially the pains women suffered to join the queues and advised her not to vote.

She, however, said that inspite  of  her husband’s advice, she felt it was her right to vote as women must be part of the country’s democracy drive.

Aminu, who  urged husbands  not to prevent  their wives from  performing their civic responsibility, said women have pivotal roles to play in nation building.