In the spirit of the yuletide, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun the nationwide distribution of bags of rice to its women supporters.
It is in appreciation of their commitment to the cause of the party in the outgoing year.
National Women Leader, Betta Edu, flagged off the distribution on Wednesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
She told reporters that the gesture was to appreciate women who stood by and continue to support the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
She denied that it was a form of vote buying or voter inducement.
Edu said: “We are here at the APC National Secretariat to reach out to as many women who show up here in their thousands. We have been here since 7 am.
“We are saying a big thank you for all the support the Nigerian women have given to the APC throughout the year and for those who have supported Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima.
“They have gone all out; they have been mobilising women and ensuring that we keep the fire burning.
“We remember that over 60 per cent of the voting population for our next election lies with women, so we must keep them motivated.
“This is our little way of saying thank you on behalf of the party’s national chairman.
“We are saying thank you to women on behalf of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his dear wife.
“We are saying thank you to women on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and his dear wife. We are saying thank you to Nigerian women.
“We will be giving each woman a bag of rice. We will also be sending this rice to all the zones and all the states.
“We hope that everyone comes out in February 2023 to vote for our candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“He will make a difference for women. He will empower us, mainstream us and give us the right seats at the table.
“So, Nigerian women, this is your time because grassroots empowerment will come.
“We are happy to get to at least 1m women across the country.”
Edu denied that the gesture was a vote-buying strategy.
Asked whether the gesture was meant to attract votes for her party, Edu said: “This is not money.
“We are not giving money to anyone.
“I am the woman leader of APC who was elected by the APC women and indeed the entire APC structures.
“So, we offer this from our humanitarian hearts.
“This has nothing to do with vote-buying or election.
“This is simply telling the women who have stood with APC: ‘thank you’.”