The Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission has praised political parties for their excellent support so far for the women candidates which they have endorsed for the 2022 National General Election. The Acting Registrar of Political Parties, Mr. Emmanuel Pok, said this is something significant displayed in this election which has increased the chances of women of being elected to office. “Unlike previous elections, in this election political parties have endorsed a significant number of female candidates and going in and supporting them in their campaigns with their candidate posters and banners. That’s the support that women are receiving,” said the acting registrar. Mr. Pok said the second significant support is that parliamentary leaders of political parties are actually going into the districts and provinces to campaign for their female candidates. “That’s never been done or at some stage the support did not come fully as expected by the women candidates, but in the 2022 national election the political parties did that so we are hoping that at least three or four women can come home in the election.” Meanwhile, the Commission is pleased so far with the conduct of the 53 registered political parties during this election. The acting registrar said so far, they have not been any major or a high number of election related violence or incidents apart from the few reported in the country’s highlands region, where posters and political party banners were damaged by people. He added that a total of 3, 506 candidates were nominated for this election, of which 3, 364 are male while 142 are female candidates, and of that total 1, 330 candidates both male and female, are endorsed by political parties. The Commission conducted surveys in 13 provinces and has seen this outstanding support by political parties and is hoping this continues until the national election wraps up.