The impeachment of the Executive Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Hon. Mrs. Alice Tangi Allen, could undermine women’s participation in political leadership, the Women for 35% Initiative of the AJU Morgan Elumelu Foundation has warned.
The initiative, in a statement signed by its Founder and Convener, Amb. Aju Elumelu, described Allen’s removal as troubling, particularly because she was the only female among the eight elected local government chairmen in Bayelsa State.
Allen was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and sworn into office on May 29, 2024, after receiving a mandate from the people of Sagbama Local Government Area.
The group alleged that the council chairman had faced intimidation, pressure and political harassment over her reported refusal to defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the organisation, it had refrained from making public statements on the matter while monitoring developments and hoping that dialogue and respect for democratic principles would resolve the situation.
It said the eventual impeachment of Allen had, however, raised serious concerns about the political environment for women seeking to occupy and retain elective positions in Nigeria.
The group also expressed concern over reports that Hon. Diepreye Rosline Yankee, elected as Councillor and Leader of the House, had been sworn in as Acting Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area.
Women for 35% said the reported sequence of events raised questions about the protection of elected mandates, particularly where political affiliation and the exercise of political freedom were involved.
It argued that Allen’s case should not be viewed merely through the lens of partisan politics, stressing that the broader issue was whether women who successfully secure elective office would be allowed to exercise their mandates without intimidation or discrimination.
The organisation said women had repeatedly been encouraged to contest elections and participate in governance, but questioned what message would be sent to aspiring female politicians if women who attain political office were subsequently subjected to pressure and removal.
It stressed that its campaign for 35 per cent affirmative action was not about supporting one political party against another, but about protecting women’s participation in democratic governance.
The group therefore condemned any alleged intimidation, harassment, coercion or political victimisation against Allen or any other woman holding public office.
It called on relevant authorities, democratic institutions, civil society organisations, women’s groups and other defenders of democracy to pay close attention to the developments in Sagbama and ensure that the rights and dignity of elected officials were protected.
The initiative also urged the parties involved to explore all available constitutional and legal avenues to resolve the matter peacefully and transparently.
It maintained that the struggle for greater representation of women in politics should extend beyond getting women elected, to ensuring that they are able to remain in office, exercise authority and complete their mandates without intimidation or discrimination.
The organisation said Allen deserved to have her case treated fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law, adding that Women for 35% would continue to advocate for a political system where women were not only given opportunities to contest elections but were also respected when they win.
