The European Union (EU) has intensified pressure for the passage of the proposed Special Seats Bill as part of efforts to improve women’s political representation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The push formed the focus of a high-level strategy meeting held in Abuja, where stakeholders warned that Nigeria’s democracy would remain incomplete without deliberate measures to increase women’s participation in leadership.
The meeting, themed “Advancing Women’s Political Leadership: Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Representation in 2027,” was organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, both cohort members of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law.
Governance and Gender Adviser at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Laolu Olawumi, said the ongoing constitutional reform process presents a critical opportunity to expand women’s inclusion in governance.
She stressed that women’s participation in politics remains essential for equality, democratic development, and national progress, despite persistent structural barriers.
Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, expressed concern over the continued marginalisation of women in Nigeria’s political system, revealing that fifteen states currently have no female representation in their State Houses of Assembly.
He noted that the passage of the Special Seats Bill was urgent, warning that broader constitutional amendments would fail to achieve meaningful inclusion without it.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, said structural barriers continue to limit women’s access to political leadership.
She observed that although women play significant roles as voters and campaign supporters, they remain largely excluded from decision-making positions.
Chairperson of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Associate Professor Uju Agomoh, urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions to concrete action, describing the lack of inclusiveness in Nigeria’s political space as a major democratic concern.
In a goodwill message, the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Edessii Anani Okpebholo, said national development would remain incomplete without the active participation of women in governance.
She added that women must move beyond symbolic roles during elections and be fully integrated into leadership and decision-making processes.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), also called for greater trust in women’s leadership capabilities, noting that women have consistently demonstrated competence when given leadership opportunities.
A member of the House of Representatives, Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi, expressed optimism about the prospects of the Special Seats Bill, citing growing national attention and advocacy around the legislation.
He, however, noted that cultural, religious, and societal barriers remain significant obstacles to women’s political participation and called for efforts to reshape narratives that discourage inclusion.
