From Moshood Karim
As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) has called for the accelerated passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, describing it as a crucial step toward addressing the chronic underrepresentation of women in governance and decision-making.
The call was made during the League’s three-day National Conference, Annual General Meeting, Founder’s Day and Award Night, held in Abuja at the weekend, with the theme: “The Power of Women’s Voices and Votes: A Critical Tool for Electoral Victory.”
Participants at the event agreed that the passage of the Bill, currently before the National Assembly, would ensure that certain legislative seats are reserved and contested exclusively by women as a strategic measure to enhance gender inclusivity in Nigerian politics.
President of NILOWV, Honourable Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, said the League had been at the forefront of amplifying women’s voices in national affairs, adding that its campaign for the Reserved Seats Bill had mobilised massive grassroots support across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
“It was resolved that the League would do nothing else but amplify the Bills at the National Assembly,” Awunah-Ikyegh said. “We launched our ‘Her Seats in Parliament’ campaign in February and secured the buy-in of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and key stakeholders. We also gathered over 1.2 million signatures and presented them during the National Public Hearing.”
She stressed that the 2027 elections would mark a defining moment for women in politics, saying: “2027 cannot be spoken of without the Special Seats Bill. If it is passed into law, it will change the dynamics of Nigerian politics and restore democratic integrity.”
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Ola Erinfolami, commended the League for its relentless advocacy for women’s political inclusion.
“The significance of this national conference cannot be overstated,” the Minister said. “It brings together visionary women and advocates united by a shared conviction that women’s voices, votes, and leadership are vital to national development. Your advocacy has ensured that women’s participation in governance remains not just a talking point but a national priority.”
She added that, guided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministry had launched major frameworks such as the National Gender Policy (2021–2026) and the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy (2023), alongside initiatives like the Renew Hope Social Impact Intervention 774, designed to empower women and families across all local government areas.
“These frameworks expand opportunities, protect rights, and foster an environment where every woman and child can thrive,” she said. “The Reserved Seats Bill, now before the National Assembly, is a key part of this transformation and demonstrates the commitment of what is widely regarded as the most gender-sensitive legislature in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
Founder of NILOWV, Dr. Esther Uduehi, also urged lawmakers to expedite action on the Bill, warning that the exclusion of women from governance would only continue to stall national progress.
“We want everyone to support this special seat for women,” Uduehi said. “Give us this opportunity so we can work with our male counterparts to make Nigeria a better place. Otherwise, we may have to adopt the ‘Namibia action’ where women have taken charge across all arms of government.”
The conference featured panel discussions where experts from diverse fields voiced their support for the need for more women to occupy more seats in governance.
The Reserved Seats Bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide one reserved seat for women in each senatorial district and federal constituency. The seats would exist alongside current ones and be reviewed after a few election cycles to assess their impact on female inclusion.
Nigeria currently has less than seven per cent of women in elective and appointive positions, far below the 35 per cent affirmative action benchmark recommended by the National Gender Policy and international conventions to which the country is a signatory.
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