The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is pushing political parties to take concrete steps to increase women’s representation in elective positions ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The Commission made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a strategic engagement with political party leaders, female candidates, civil society organisations, development partners and the media.
Representing INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, National Commissioner Professor Rhoda Gumus said women constituted almost half of Nigeria’s electorate but remained significantly underrepresented in political leadership.
She said women accounted for 44 million, 414 thousand, 846 of the 93 million, 469 thousand, 8 registered voters in the 2023 General Election, representing 47.52 per cent.
Gumus said the trend had continued in the ongoing voter registration exercise, with women accounting for 52.68 per cent of the three million, 867 thousand, 997 Nigerians who completed registration in the third phase as of July 26.
However, she noted that only one thousand, 556 women, representing 10.15 per cent, were among the 15 thousand, 331 candidates for major elective positions in the 2023 elections.
Only three women were elected to the Senate, while 16 secured seats in the House of Representatives.
The INEC National Commissioner urged political parties to provide women with better access to party structures, campaign platforms, funding, media visibility, mentoring, logistics, security and grassroots mobilisation.
She stressed that women’s participation in politics was not a favour but a democratic imperative.
Also speaking, former INEC Director of Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Societies Liaison, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, said Nigeria remained behind several African countries in women’s political representation.
He called for stronger legal frameworks, dedicated campaign funding, mentorship and zero tolerance for intimidation, threats and sexual harassment of female candidates.
INEC says it expects political parties to make specific and measurable commitments that will translate into greater opportunities for women to contest and win elections in 2027.