The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has described the emergence of Ms Mariamo Isah- Barnabas as an elected female councillor as “a jinx breaker.”
Mrs Ndidi Okafor,INEC’s Head of Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, saying the development was indeed great.
According to her, Isah-Barnabas of the All Progressive Congress (APC) emerged winner as Councillor of Ushafa Ward in Bwari Area Council out of 120 others who contested elections in the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Okafor said that 40 females contested for chairmanship position while 88 contested for councilorship making the number 120.
She said that a total of 105 candidates contested for six chairmanship positions out whom 40 were females but that none of the women won.
She said that 701 candidates contested to occupy the 62 councilorship seats out which 88 were females but that only one of the females won.
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“Before now, a woman has never won an election in the FCT.You can say the number is not much but we are glad it happened because it is a jinx breaker.’’
Okafor said that overall, the elections in the FCT were a success, adding that INEC was pleased with the people of FCT for their good conduct.
Meanwhile, Mr Yahaya Bello, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the FCT, said six Chairmen and 62 councillors were elected during the March 9 elections in the territory.
Bello explained that APC won the chairmanship of Abaji,Kwali,Gwagwalada and AMAC, while PDP won in Bwari and Kuje Area Councils.
He said that APC won 34 councilorship seats and PDP got 27, while the Social Democratic Party(SDP) won one.
REC said that there were skirmishes at the Area Councils during the elections but that the security personnel deployed for the polls were professional and swift in ensuring peaceful conduct of the exercise.
