Nigerian women’s rights activist, Dr. Josephine Okei-Odumakin, popularly known as Joe Odumakin, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come through and clean for Nigerians in the 2023 elections.
Odumakin, made the call on Thursday, in a post on Facebook, titled “Towards 2023 elections”.
The activist, who is a close friend to almost all the Presidential aspirants of the various parties, said “we cannot afford electoral failure. Violence must be discouraged and rigging caged.”
Odumakin, who is the president of human rights groups, (Women Arise for Change Initiative and the Campaign for Democracy) also called on the judiciary to be impartial.
The post reads: “The primaries are over. The flagbearers are known. We wish them good luck. Now, those who have cards must listen hard to what is offered. Those who are offering must speak to this precarious moment and be ready to deliver on promises.
“INEC must come through and clean for Nigerians. We cannot afford electoral failure.
Violence must be discouraged and rigging caged.
“Our judicial system must be impartial. These are the things to do but which we fail woefully to do. I wonder if we would get it right this time. It is well with Nigeria.”
Odumakin was born in Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria, and grew up in a Roman Catholic household.
She received a bachelor’s degree in English Education in 1987, followed by a master’s in Guidance and Counseling and a doctorate in History and Policy of Education from the University of Ilorin.
The activist has frequently been arrested for her activism, detained 17 times during the military rule of Ibrahim Babangida.
She was involved with over 2,000 cases where a woman’s rights had been disregarded.
2023 Presidential candidates and their parties:
*African Action Congress, AAC -Omoyele Sowore
*Labour Party, LP -Peter Obi
*All Progressives Congress, APC -Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
*People’s Democratic Party, PDP – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
*African Democratic Congress, ADC – Dumebi Kachikwu
*Young Progressives Party, YPP -Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim
*New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP – Rabiu Kwankwaso
*Action Democratic Party, ADP – Yabaji Sani
*Accord Party, AP – Christopher Imumolen
* All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA — Peter Umeadi
*Boot Party, BP – Sunday Adenuga
*National Rescue Movement, NRM – Okwudili Nwa-Anyajike
*People’s Redemption Party, PRP — Kola Abiola
*Social Democratic Party, SDP – Adewole Adebayo
, ZLP – Dan Nwanyawu