By Tribune Online

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The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Labour Party, on Monday, reiterated their commitment to strengthening inclusive political participation in Nigeria.

The Resident Program Director of the institute, Mr Sentell Barnes and the national chairman of the Labour Party made the promise in Abuja.

Speaking during an advocacy visit to the Labour Party (LP) national secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Barnes outlined IRI’s programmes and projects in the country.

According to a statement by LP national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on the visit, he said the IRI director also emphasised efforts to promote the inclusion of marginalized groups in political parties through policy development workshops and advocacy initiatives.

In his speech at the occasion, the national chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, highlighted the party’s strides in ensuring inclusivity across its structures and activities.

He noted that the party has consistently promoted women’s political participation, including the advocacy for 35 percent legislative seat reservations for women, as well as appointments of women into party leadership positions at local, state, and national levels.

He recalled the efforts of the party to promote gender inclusivity in the 2023 general election, stating: “The Labour Party issued free nomination forms to women aspiring for elective positions, a gesture that contributed to the election of two women into the federal legislature — one in the House of Representatives and another in the Senate,” it said.

Abure said several state chairpersons of the party are women, citing Edo, Rivers, and Lagos States as examples.

On youth inclusion, the chairman explained that the party has established a directorate for youth affairs, with plans to develop it into an institute to further empower and educate young people in politics.

He added: “Many youths benefitted from free or subsidized nomination forms in the last elections, which enabled a number of them to secure elective offices across the country.”

Abure also emphasised the Labour Party’s support for less privileged aspirants who often face financial barriers in politics.

According to him, “the party’s decision to provide free nomination forms to financially disadvantaged candidates allowed new entrants into the political space, many of whom went on to win elections.”

Abure assured that Labour Party will continue to champion inclusiveness and provide opportunities for women, youths, and the underprivileged.

He was confident that the measures would result in greater representation of marginalized groups in the 2027 general election.

The LP chairman also hinted the Resident Director on the various policy initiatives of the party, which include youth, women, and PWDs inclusion in party administration and election contestation.

He equally listed the party’s political education initiatives, which are expected to crystalise into a Labour Party Democratic Institute that will be assigned with the training of party members and agents.

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