By Josephine Agbonkhese

Glitz, glamour and a strong sense of patriotism were center stage last Tuesday night as Green Wine Green, GWG, an end-of-year gala dinner put together by ElectHER in conjunction with the European Union, held in Lagos.

The event themed ‘We are Nigeria’, which was graced by dozens of business leaders, corporate giants, politicians, A-list celebrities and entertainers, including ace comedian, Ayo Makun; Toyin Saraki, wife of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; entrepreneur and executive coach, Chioma Ikokwu aka Chioma Goodhair and many more, featured series of pop and cultural performances.

Speaking at the event, Ibijoke Faborode, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, ElectHER, said the night was inspired by the need to deploy a fusion of entertainment, fashion and style in urging citizens to be prepared to exercise their political franchise in the coming general elections.

She said: “It is not business as usual; we have an election to run. There is just a whole lot not going on well in Nigeria. For us at ElectHER, a non-partisan women’s political advancement group, we want to ensure a people-led movement that ensures people actually take ownership of the process.

“Currently, over two million Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, are yet to be collected in Lagos State alone. The second phase of collection is ongoing and we are using this medium to urge everyone to pick up their voter cards, be part of the electoral process and elect credible candidates, including women, for a better government.

“Already, we have a list of eight female political candidates from across the country who we are particularly supporting under our Agenda35 campaign initiative, to contest and win elections in 2023. We will be mobilising social, human and financial resources for these candidates.”

Describing Faborode’s dream as valid and urging her to continue in her quest for more women in government, Chairman, Platform Capital cum Patron, ElectHER, Akintoye Akindele, said leadership is a function based on ability and not sex.

In their remarks, some of the female political candidates being supported by the ElectHER, who were present at the event, affirmed that the organisation had made the journey ten times easier and less lonely for them; unlike it usually used to be for female aspirants.

Among candidates supported by the organisation are Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, Delta State House of Assembly candidate, PDP; Hawwah Abdullahi Gambo, ADC House of Representatives candidate, Kaduna State; Barr. Juliet Isi Ikhayere, ADC House of Representatives candidate, AMAC/Bwari Constituency, Abuja North; and Similoluwa Olusola, PDP Ekiti State House of Assembly candidate.

Others are Rukayat Shittu Motunrayo, APC Kwara State House of Assembly candidate; Munira Suleiman Tanimu, APC Kaduna State House of Assembly candidate; Zahra’u Basheer, PRP House of Representatives candidate, Kano State; and Joyce Ehinogie Daniels, PDP Esan Central Chairmanship candidate, Edo State.