Kogiflame
Emmanuel Kehinde, Ilorin
Former board member of Kwara
state college of health technology, Offa Hajia Fati Khadijat Olatinwo has joined the race for senate seat of Kwara south senatorial district in the 2023 general election.
Hajia Olatinwo, a retired staff of the Federal Airport Authority (FAN) had also served as fomer local government liason officer to former goverrnor Bukola Saraki.
She announced her decision to vie for the senate seat under platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday during a visit to the state secretariat of the party (;PDP), Ilorin where she was received by state party chaiman, Alh Babatunde Mohammed and other state party officials.
The aspirant was led to the party secretariat by the Offa local government PDP woman leader, Hajia Risikat Abdullahi, accompanied by scores of women.
While presenting a letter of intent to the state PDP chaiman, the aspirant said she was joining the race to pave way for women occupy their righful place in politics and governance.
She recalled the leading role played by the late Offa born former deputy speaker of the Kwara state House of assembly, Hajia Banke Badmus saying it was high time women aimed higher in view of thier positive roles in the success of the party over the years.
While presenting the aspirant to the party, Offa PDP woman leader, said the aspirant had proved to be a good ambassador of the party and women and urged members of the party to rally support for her emergene.
She told the party leadership that “come 2023, more women will vie for elective offices to ensure the actualisation of 35 % affirmative action in elective representation” . saying “we wont accept less than 35 % representation “.
Responding , the state PDP chaiman, acknowledged the positive contributions of women to the success of the party over the years nothing that “women and youths are key to success of any political party’
He assured that the party will provide level playing ground for all aspirant even as he maintained that it will “adhere to rule of law”.
He said the opposition PDP is now better positioned to wrest power from the ruling All Progressive Congress saying “all factors used against us in 2019 general election have come to past”
The party chairman who is a former speaker of the state house of assembly , admonished members of the party not to fall into the gospel of the ruling APC goverment that it is committed to 35 % affirmative action.
He recalled that the PDP under Saraki leadership was the first to consider women for elective offices at the state and national assembly, a feat he said had not been surpassed by the opposition.
“Today no single member of the ruling APC is holding any elective office at the state and national assemblies ” adding that the PDP is the only party that can protect women.
