The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State is joining forces with the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to encourage more women to participate in politics and voter registration.

During a courtesy visit by the Osun NAWOJ team to INEC’s office in Osogbo on Wednesday, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Olaleke Mutiu Agboke, stressed the urgent need to boost women’s involvement in the political process. He thanked NAWOJ for championing this cause and reaffirmed that INEC’s gender policy is built on inclusivity, aiming to create a balanced political space for both men and women.

Dr. Agboke highlighted the low number of women holding political positions and called on NAWOJ to intensify its campaigns. “NAWOJ should increase the tempo of engagement and bring politicians to the table. Encourage women to step forward, even if they lose; it’s a step toward having a voice and showing capacity,” he urged.

On voter registration, the REC expressed concern that many women in the state still do not have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) because they’re yet to register. He announced that INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin on August 18, 2025, for online registration and August 25 for in-person registration.

He appealed to NAWOJ members to take the message to women across Osun, stressing that voting is the first step toward influencing policies and governance. “Let’s get more women to register, collect their PVCs, and turn out to vote,” he said.

In her remarks, the Osun NAWOJ Chairperson, Abisola Ariwodola, praised INEC for its commitment to gender-friendly policies and reiterated NAWOJ’s dedication to advocating for more women in leadership roles. “We’ve been driving campaigns for fair representation of women at federal and state levels through our programmes,” she said.

Ariwodola also sought deeper collaboration between NAWOJ and INEC to strengthen networks, promote civic rights, run voter education initiatives, and ultimately improve the quality of life for women across the state.

The partnership signals a renewed push to ensure that more women are not only voters but active players in Nigeria’s democratic process.