FELIX NWANERI writes on the move by the National Assembly to address the imbalance and underrepresentation of women at the national and states Assembly through creation of extra seats that would be exclusively reserved for them
I t is indisputable that more women across the globe are actively getting involved in policy decisions and implementation in their respective countries. However, the political space seems to be shrinking for them in Nigeria given the number, who were on the ballot and actually won elective positions in the 2023 elections.
While a total of 16,164 candidates were listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 1,520 elective positions, there was only one female out of the 18 candidates, who contested the presidential election. The sole female candidate is Princess Chichi Ojei of Allied Peoples Movement (APM). This represents just 2.77 per cent of the contestants. None of the parties fielded a female vice-presidential candidate.
In the senatorial election that had 1,101 candidates for the 109 senatorial seats, 92 were women (8.35 per cent), while 288 women out of 3,122 candidates contested for House of Representatives, representing 9.2 per cent. Cumulatively, there were 381 women among a total of 4,230 contestants for the presidency and the National Assembly seats.
This represents 8.9 per cent of the contestants. A state-by-state analysis shows that out of the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), five states did not field any woman as a candidate for the Senate, while one state did not field any woman as a candidate for the House of Representatives. The states are Kano, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara for senatorial elections and Jigawa for House of Representatives polls.
For the governorship elections in the 28 states that had a total of 837 candidates; there were 24 female candidates, while 100 ran for deputy governorship slots.
Only 18 states had female governorship candidates. Six states – Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Delta, Kano and Lagos – topped the list with two female governorship candidates each.
The other states with female governorship candidates are Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara (one candidate each).
There were no female governorship candidates in Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Ogun, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe states. On the number of female governorship candidates fielded by the parties, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) had three standard bearers each, while Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) had two female governorship candidates each.
Ensuring that women have a stronger voice in shaping policies, making decisions and driving national development is not just a matter of justice; it is a necessity for stable growth
Nine parties – APC, Accord, Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Booth Party (BP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP) – had a female governorship candidate each.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Action Congress (AAC) had no female governorship standard bearer Sadly, none of the female governorship candidates scaled the hurdle. For the deputy governorship slots, there were no female candidates in three states – Katsina, Taraba and Yobe. Lagos topped the list of states with female deputy governorship candidates with nine.
Delta and Ogun states followed closely with eight candidates each. Enugu, Gombe, Akwa Ibom and Plateau states had six female deputy governorship candidates each. Four states – Benue, Rivers, Oyo and Kaduna – had five female deputy governorship candidates each; Abia (four); Adamawa, Kwara and Nasarawa (three each); Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara (two each) and Kano (one).
For states Assembly elections, a total of 10,240 candidates contested for the 990 state Houses of Assembly seats across the 36 states. Of these contestants, 9,221 were male, while 1,019 were female. The figures for the 2023 elections showed a drop in women’s participation compared to the 2019 elections. In the 2019 polls, six of the 73 presidential candidates were females. For vice presidential candidates, there were 22 women.
Also, out of the 1,904 candidates for the senatorial election, there were 235 women (12.3 per cent) of which seven (6.42 per cent) were elected into the Red Chamber. For the House of Representatives that had 4,680 candidates, 533 women (11.6 per cent) vied for seats although only 11 (3.05 per cent) were elected. Sadly, none of the seven female senators in the 9th National Assembly returned to the 10th Senate.
Shrinking space for women in parliament
According to available statistics, from 1999 till date, only 158 women have been elected into the National Assembly (39 senators and 119 members of the House of Representatives) compared to 2,657 men (616 senators, 2,041 reps) within the period.
Unfortunately, the results of the 2023 National Assembly elections further exposed the country’s failure to implement several treaties and statutes it signed, which are aimed at ensuring women’s involvement in politics. Out of the 92 women, who contested for senatorial seats, only three of them won seats in the nation’s upper legislative Assembly.
They are Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party, FCT), Aderanti Adebule (All Progressives Congress, Lagos) and Ipalibo Banigo (Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers). Natasha Akpoti (Peoples Democratic Party, Kogi) later joined the Red Chamber after emerging victorious in a bye election. For the House of Representatives, only 14 out of the 286, who contested for seats in the House of Representatives got elected.
They are Nnabuife Chinwe Clara of YPP), who won the Orumba North/ Orumba South federal constituency of Anambra State, Orogbu Obiageli of LP (Awka North/Awka South federal constituency of Anambra State), Gwacham Maureen Chime of APGA (Oyi/Ayamelum federal constituency of Anambra State), Regina Akume of APC (Gboko/Tarka federal constituency of Benue State), Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake of PDP (Ethiope East/Ethiope West constituency of Delta State) and Fatima Talba of APC (Nangre/Potiskum constituency of Yobe State) Others are Onuh Onyeche Blessing (APC, Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency of Benue State) Zainab Gimba (APC, Bama/Ngala/ Kala-Balge federal constituency of Borno State) Beni Butmak Lar (PDP, Lantang North/Lantang South federal constituency of Plateau State), Goodhead Boma (PDP, Akuku Toru/Asari Toru federal constituency of Rivers State), Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/ Tarmuwa federal constituency of Yobe State), Onuoha Miriam (APC, Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo federal constituency of Imo State and Adewunmi Ariyomi Onanuga (APC Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North federal constituency of Ogun State).
In the states Assembly elections; out of the 1,019 women, who contested for seats in the 36 states legislative houses, only 48 were able secure seats. A breakdown of the figure according to states shows that Ekiti had the highest number.
Out of the 26 seats in the state House of Assembly, six were won by women. Kwara and Akwa Ibom states are next with the highest number of elected female lawmakers in 2023. The two states have five and four females, respectively. In Lagos State, only three females were elected.
This is the same as Ondo State. The figures further show that 15 states do not have a single female elected lawmaker. Out of the seven states in the North-West region, all except Kaduna State are male-dominated Houses of Assembly. In the NorthEast, only Adamawa and Taraba states have female lawmakers in their present Assembly.
The other four states in the region have none. Out of the 25 seats in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, only one is occupied by a woman, while there are two women in the Taraba State Assembly.
Abia, Imo, Niger, Osun, and Rivers are also among the states that do not have elected female lawmakers in their legislative houses. The 2023 general election was the second in a row that Abia State will not have a single elected female in its House of Assembly. Between 2019 and 2023, the 24 seats in the state’s Assembly were all occupied by males.
Move to address poor run
While many decried the poor run by women in the 2023 legislative elections, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and 12 other members of the Green Chamber, responded with a bill for creation of extra seats for women in the legislature.
The proposed legislation seeks to alter sections 48, 49, 71 and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to create one special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)., totaling 74.
The bill also proposes a take-off date of 2027 (after the tenure of the current National Assembly elapses) and subject to review every 16 years. It further proposes alteration to section 91 of the Constitution to provide for three special seats “reserved exclusively” for women in the Houses of Assembly of each state of the federation. Co-sponsor of the bill, Hon.
Joshua Gana, then in his lead debate on the proposed legislation, said it is aimed at addressing a profound imbalance and the under-representation of women in the National Assembly and at the sub-national level.
The bill, according to him, is “anchored on the fundamental principle of equitable representation, and aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but that they actively contribute to shaping the legislative landscape and the overall development of our nation.”
He added: “The issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy,” noting that even though the Constitution guarantees equal right, the representation of women in the legislature has been alarmingly low.
His words: “In the 7th, 8th and 9th Assemblies, women accounted for only 6.4 per cent, 6.1 per cent and 2.7 per cent of the Senate respectively; and 6.4 per cent, 3.05 per cent and 4.7 per cent of the House of Representatives respectively.
As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 elections, bold legislative reforms like the Reserved Seats Bill can be a game changer for socio-economic transformation
“These statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify the voices of women in our legislative Houses at the national and subnational levels. The rationale behind this amendment is grounded on the principles of fairness and inclusivity.
“Globally, Nigeria lags behind in women representation in parliament, ranking among the lowest. Countries that have implemented affirmative action, like Rwanda and Andorra, have seen significant strides towards gender equality in governance.”
Gana further said that the bill not only proposes a temporary measure of seat reservation for women to catalyse similar progress in Nigeria but will ensure that women’s perspectives and priorities are fully integrated into national and sub-national decisionmaking processes.
The spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, who contributed to the debate, said there is a “broad consensus” that it is necessary to have more women in parliament. Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who also supported the bill, said the parliament needs to correct the deficiency.
“We must make deliberate effort to solve problems where we see them,” he said. However, some other lawmakers who contributed to the debate, opposed the bill on the premise that it is against the provisions of the Constitution on equal opportunity for all. Hon. Ghali Tijani said rather than reserve special seats for women, political parties should deploy mechanisms to improve women’s participation in politics.
Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala (Oyo), Patrick Umoh (Akwa Ibom) and Billy Osawaru (Edo), who also opposed the bill, cited violation of the Constitution.
Echoes of affirmative action
There is no doubt that many have continued to clamour for inclusion of more women in governance, measures by successive government towards realizing that failed to yield expected results.
For instance, the Federal Government, in Year 2000, adopted a policy called the National Policy on Women, which provided for affirmative action to increase to 30 per cent the representation of women in the legislative and executive arms of the government. However, like most government’s policies, not much was done for its implementation.
This, partly explains why women still occupy the back seat in politics and governance even as there is no sign that it will get better soon due to several factors, particularly cost of electioneering, apathy among women, absolute control of the political parties by men, stereotyping of female politicians and threat of election violence.
It is against these backdrops that some stakeholders and analysts have continued to call for legislative changes to ensure a quota system that reserves a fraction of electoral positions for women given that some African countries such as Rwanda, Senegal and Kenya have addressed the imbalance of women representation in governance through legislation.
Unfortunately, an attempt in this regard suffered a setback in Nigeria in 2021, when the 9th Senate turned down the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South). Olujimi was forced to step down the bill after some senators raised concerns over possible infringement on Islamic morals.
It was the third time the consideration and passage of the bill was frustrated, having been first introduced in the Eighth Senate in March 2016. The bill, among others, sought to guarantee the rights of women to equal opportunities in employment, equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children; equal rights for women in marriage and divorce, equal access to education, property/ land ownership and inheritance.
It also sought to protect the rights of widows; guarantee appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and prohibit violence against women. A similar move was equally rejected by members of the 9th House of Representatives during voting on the amendment of 1999 Constitution in 2022.
The lawmakers rejected a bill that sought to reserve special seats for women at the National and state Houses of Assembly. The bill was entitled: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seats for Women at the National and State Houses of Assembly.”
Eightyone lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, while 208 voted against it and 13 members abstained from voting. The 9th House also rejected a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration and three others.
This prompted protests by women at the entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja. For days, the women besieged the entrance of the National Assembly and demanded the reversal of the bills. Following the protests, the House of Representatives rescind its decisions on three out of the five bills.
Move gains support
Expectedly, the campaign for greater representation of Nigerian women in politics and leadership is gaining traction. Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, who endorsed the bill seeking to reserve special seats for women in the parliament, urged the 10th National Assembly to expedite its passage.
Mrs. Tinubu, a former member of the Senate, who spoke at the recent Art for Governance Exhibition in Abuja, organised by the Deputy Speaker’s Office in collaboration with ElectHER, stressed the importance of women’s leadership in national development.
The First Lady was represented at the event by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hjiya Fatima Abbas. Her words: “In the context of governance and inclusion, it offers a unique and compelling way to spotlight the urgent need for greater female representation in leadership and decision-making processes.
“The artworks being displayed today serve for a Nigeria where political leadership is truly inclusive and reflective of its people. The emphasis on affirmative action bills is essential to amplifying the message of inclusion contained in this exhibition.
“Women constitute a vital part of our nation’s progress; yet, their representation in governance remains limited. Ensuring that women have a stronger voice in shaping policies, making decisions and driving national development is not just a matter of justice; it is a necessity for stable growth.
“Therefore, I support the affirmative action bill that mandates at least 35 per cent of seats in the legislative and executive arms being occupied by women and urge the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the bill.” The House Deputy Speaker, Kalu, on his part, said: “We see the struggles, the resilience, and the undeniable strength of women who have fought to lead, only to be met with barriers. But barriers can be broken.
That is why this exhibition is not just a cultural moment, it is an advocacy tool, a visual argument, a movement in motion. “The Art for Governance exhibition is anchored on a pivotal legislative effort: The Constitution (Alteration) Bill, 2024, popularly known as the Additional Seats Bill. This bill is not merely about numbers or political arithmetic; it is about justice.
And as we push for its passage in the 10th Assembly, we recognize that legislative success is not achieved through legal arguments alone but through the mobilization of hearts and minds, and this exhibition does precisely that. Because this is not just about passing a bill; it is about shaping a legacy.”
The Chief Executive Officer of ElectHER and Lead Curator, Art For Governance Exhibition, Ibijoke Faborode, emphasised the importance of genderinclusive governance in fostering stronger democratic institutions, improved policy outcomes, and broader socio-economic growth. “Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, has one of the lowest rates of female political representation on the continent.
With women comprising nearly 50 per cent of the population but less than 4 per cent of the National Assembly, the underrepresentation of women in governance remains a critical challenge to achieving inclusive democracy and sustainable development.
“As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 elections, bold legislative reforms like the Reserved Seats Bill can be a game changer for socio-economic transformation. We are building the momentum needed to mainstream the Reserved Seats Bill, shift public discourse, and drive its passage.
This is not just about a policy change. It is about reshaping Nigeria’s democratic landscape to reflect the full strength of its people,” she said. The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim and other prominent personalities at the event also expressed their commitment to ensuring the passage of the Special Seats Bill by the National Assembly.
This constitution that the National Assembly has been tinkering with since 1999 has not led Nigeria to anywhere, whether it is about giving women more opportunity to participate in governance or creation of more states
Also supporting the move for special seats for women in the parliament, the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth Parliament Association, during a visit to the Senate, last week, called for special seats for women at the national and state Houses of Assembly in Nigeria in the ongoing constitution amendment process.
The leader of the delegation, Kate Ofunne Osamor, said the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliament is interested in the legislative proposal aimed at enhancing women inclusiveness in governance.
“The delegation before you is across party lines from the House of Commons and House of Lords from the United Kingdom under the aegis of Commonwealth Parliament Association.
The purpose of this visit on you, is to call for your support for special seats for women in parliament by ensuring that bill, already sponsored for that, is considered and passed,” she said.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in his response, said the bill would be looked into and given required consideration. “In the 10th National Assembly, we have legislated with the zeal of conviction.
We have laboured tirelessly to ensure that democracy is not a mere abstraction, but a living, breathing force that transforms lives.
“Inclusive governance is part of our legislative agenda and in the spirit of unity, we have embraced the rich tapestry of our nation’s diversity.
Our policies reflect the hopes and dreams of all Nigerians, strengthening the bonds that hold us together and ensuring that no citizen is left behind.
Doubt over workability
While the move by the legislators to create special seats for women in the respective legislative houses will appeal to gender equality campaigners, some political stakeholders, who spoke on the issue expressed doubt over its workability.
Founder and pioneer National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, in an interview with New Telegraph, said despite the clamour for more women to participate in governance, particularly in lawmaking, the bid by the House of Representatives is likely to hit the rocks given the peculiarities of the different parts of Nigeria.
His words: “There is the sentiment that women should be given some special consideration in order to have greater participation at the legislative arm of government but it is almost like wanting to appoint women into elective positions.
How the modalities would be worked out is something I have not been able to figure out, and the lawmakers have not told us how they intend to do that. “However, my position, which is in tandem with the general stand of most Nigerians is that we need a peoples’ constitution.
This constitution that the National Assembly has been tinkering with since 1999 has not led Nigeria to anywhere, whether it is about giving women more opportunity to participate in governance or creation of more states and local government autonomy.
“Most times, attempts to amend the constitution to address these issues and others are usually met with brick wall. So, this move to create special seats for women in the respective legislative houses is likely to suffer the same fate.
Whereas people in the South may be disposed to acceding to that type of sentiment, those in the North have their own cultural values, which make them yet to come to terms that women should be visible in public affairs
“So, if you don’t get 24 state Houses of Assembly to support the proposals, it collapses like others before it, and I doubt if they can get up to 24 states Assembly, when 19 out of the country’s 36 states are in the North. So, I see the exercise as one that will end like others and the lawmakers will tell the women that they have tried.
“I, therefore, suggest that we jettison this political posturing and face the reality of a peoples’ constitution, so those who want that to be incorporated in the constitution will push for that rather than embarking on fruitless ventures that never yield anything.”
The chairman of Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, on his part, said the National Assembly is already overcrowded and needed no more seats. “It will be superfluous because we already have an overcrowded National Assembly.
There is no reason why we should create more. As a matter of fact, our suggestion at the level of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and CACOL is that we don’t need a bicameral legislature at the national level, the way we have it.
“That the House of Representatives is enough, and that we should not have more than three representatives in each of the states and they should be holding constituency meetings regularly such that the constituents will have the opportunity to get regular feedbacks from their representatives.
“This will enable the people to carry out what is called needs assessment, so that whatever bill that is being considered will have to emanate from the different constituents, not that the legislature or the legislator representing any constituency would think on behalf of the people. So, the creation of more seats in the Assembly is superfluous, unnecessary and unwarranted.
There’s no reason for it.” While most Nigerian women believe in the promise of an equitable and just political union that consolidates the diverse strengths of citizens, such will remain a mirage until their contribution to the stability, peace and progress of the nation gets the recognition and reward it deserves by granting them more opportunities in politics and governance.
