Aisha Buhari requests that the APC refrain from using free forms to relegate women.

Hajiya Aisha Buhari, the First Lady, has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not to utilise the free form provided to women to marginalise them.

She made the appeal at the State House Conference Center in Abuja on Saturday, which was organised by the ruling party's Office of the Women Leader with cooperation from the International Republican Institute (IRI).

"I don't believe in free presents," she says. But I believe the APC will not put women to the backseat with Dr. Beta as our leader."

Mrs Buhari stated that while providing free forms had increased opportunities for women to run for elected positions, it did not guarantee success in the upcoming elections.

"I believe we have a monumental task ahead of us. "We need to strengthen our unity of purpose and work hard to carve ourselves an influential space in the political arena," she said.

Dr Betta Edu, the APC National Woman Leader, noted in her introductory remarks that over 700 women were aspiring for various posts across the country on the ruling party's platform.

She bemoaned the fact that some of the female candidates were threatened with resigning, that others were told they were unfit to run, and that others were told they couldn't run because of their religion. She also asked women to support women competing for various positions rather than pitting themselves against one another.