The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged women to pay for nomination forms if they wish to get tickets rather than waiting for political parties to ask them to pick them for free.

The Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the party, Ahmed Makarfi gave the advice when he hosted the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Jummai Alhassan at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

Makarfi said the party was ready to support any law or enactment that would ensure equality or at least a 35 percent affirmative action for women in politics and participation in governance and that would enhance the respect they get in the society.

“If it is in compliance with the law, everybody will comply, but if you leave it flexible, it is an escapist route. Forget about the nomination form, pay and get the ticket. Let us do the right thing,” Makarfi said.

Earlier in her speech, the Minister solicited the support of political parties in Nigeria in adopting a policy of voluntary gender quota system as a guarantee to ensuring women participation in politics.

‘Mama Nigeria’, as the minister is fondly called, said Nigerian women have not been given their constitutional rights of equal opportunity hence the country has been overtaken by countries like Rwanda (66 percent), South Africa (40 percent), Seychelles (50 percent) Ghana (35 percent) and other African countries with over 25 percent with regards to women’s representation in the parliament.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria stands at less than six percent, making the country, though the ‘Giant of Africa,’ a midget in comparison to others in this area,” Alhassan said.