EVINCE UHUREBOR examines the growing demand for reserved legislative seats to increase women’s participation in governance and leadership
Less than a year to the 2027 general election, Nigerian women remain significantly underrepresented in the country’s political system, despite constituting almost half of the population. Recent electoral records show that women occupy less than five per cent of elective positions nationwide, including seats in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. The gap is particularly evident at the subnational level.
No woman currently holds a seat in the state assemblies of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Abia, Osun, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, highlighting persistent structural barriers that continue to limit women’s access to political office. Amid growing concerns that the trend could persist into the 2027 electoral cycle, a Reserved Seats Bill titled, “A bill for an act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for seat reservation for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for related matters” was introduced and sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, alongside 12 other lawmakers. The co-sponsors include the late Oriyomi Onanuga, Jafaru Leko, Francis Waive, Blessing Onuh, Joshua Gana, Kama Nkemkanma, Chinwe Nnabuife, Amobi Godwin, Khadija Ibrahim, Jonathan Gbefwi, Tolani Shagaya and Mohammed Hassan.
If passed, the amendment would alter seven sections of the 1999 Constitution, expand the Senate, House of Representatives, and all 36 state assemblies, and mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delineate special women-only constituencies for four election cycles (16 years) before review. However, since its introduction, the bill has continued to generate reactions from stakeholders, human rights activists, and civil society groups, who warn that without urgent action and implementation, Nigeria’s gender imbalance in governance may persist for another legislative term.
Institutional change crucial to boost female representation –Sani
Speaking at the flag-off of the North-West zonal campaign for the reserved seats for women bill, the governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, lamented that women’s participation in politics does not reflect their population size and voting strength in Nigeria. He said women currently occupy less than five per cent of legislative seats at the national level, describing the disparity as the result of long-standing structural, cultural, economic and institutional barriers.
The governor stressed that the North-West has historically recorded low female participation in elective politics, shaped by deep-rooted social norms, economic constraints and limited access to political networks. However, he said the situation could change with intentional leadership and institutional reforms, citing examples such as the female deputy governor of Kaduna State, a female member of the state House of Assembly, who also serves as majority leader, a female head of service and a female elected local government chairman in Jaba LGA.
A democracy where half of the population holds less than five per cent of political representation is a democracy operating below its full capacity
He noted that “these milestones did not occur by accident but that they are the outcome of deliberate choices, inclusive leadership, and the courage of women who stepped forward to contest and serve.’’ Sani said the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, which is part of the ongoing constitutional review, aligns with global democratic best practices, citing countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, where similar mechanisms have improved women’s political participation.
Reserved seats for women vital for Nigeria democracy –Idele
In her reaction, the National Women Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mary Alile Idele, said that Nigeria has witnessed a “troubling decline” in women’s representation in the National Assembly from 2003 to 2023. She said women held about seven per cent of seats in 2003, but the figure has dropped to fewer than five per cent in recent assemblies, placing Nigeria among countries with the lowest rate of female legislative representation globally. According to her, “this downward trend is not just a statistic; it is a wake-up call. A democracy where half of the population holds less than five per cent of political representation is a democracy operating below its full capacity.” She stressed that the reserved seats for women bill would guarantee constitutionally protected political space for women, strengthen democratic inclusion and inspire young women to see leadership as their right.
Reserved seats bill not a privilege but a corrective tool – Onyenucheya-Uko
The chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers Nigeria, Abuja branch, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, said that the proposed Reserved Seats Bill for women in Nigeria’s legislature should not be misconstrued as a privilege but recognised as a “corrective tool” designed to address decades of entrenched structural imbalance in political representation. She stressed that Nigeria currently stands “at a constitutional crossroads,” with women still significantly underrepresented in politics despite their contributions across the country’s social and economic spheres. She noted that democracy cannot thrive when half of the country’s population remains excluded from leadership and decision-making processes.
Tracing the historical disadvantages faced by women in political participation, she recalled that although elections began in Nigeria in 1923, women in the southern and eastern regions only secured voting rights in 1954, while women in the northern region did not become enfranchised until 1979. She added that further setbacks were reinforced by successive military regimes between 1966 and 1999, during which all Heads of State and state administrators were men, thereby deepening long-standing inequalities. According to her, this historical context explains why the Reserved Seats Bill is “not a favour to women, but a restructuring necessity” aimed at creating a fairer and more inclusive democratic foundation. She urged policymakers to pass the Reserved Seats Bill without delay, political parties to open their platforms to qualified women, the media to amplify narratives that enhance women’s visibility in politics, and civil society organisations to prioritise initiatives that promote gender-balanced leadership.
Women still marginalised by culture and tradition –Ativie
A former speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and current chairman of the Labour Party in Edo, Elizabeth Ativie, in her reaction, bemoaned how cultural and traditional barriers continue to make women less visible in politics. She however, expressed optimism that the tide was changing, especially with the growing support for special seats for women in governance. “We have started very well by asking for special seats for women, like Ghana and some other countries have. What’s even more encouraging is that a man is now sponsoring the bill,” she noted. Ativie urged the National Assembly to pass the bill on special seats for women and called for the inclusion of state-level women leaders in the process. Speaking on their contribution to national development, Ativie, Edo State first female speaker, added that women also bring focus and integrity to leadership.
Advancing gender equity not a matter of charity but common sense –Sanusi
In his reaction, the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, called for deliberate action to remove obstacles that keep Nigerian women from fully participating in politics, business and leadership. According to him, advancing gender equity is not a matter of charity but of common sense, noting that obstacles often cited against women’s progress in leadership were exaggerated or deliberately imposed. He said: “We have a constitution that says you must have a minister from every city. Why is diversity in Nigeria only a matter of states? Why can’t the constitution say you must have 30 per cent of your cabinet as women or 40 per cent? Why is diversity only geographic? These are the core questions.” The monarch further stressed that “we have 109 senators and only four are women. How do you pass laws that protect women when their voices are barely heard? We must be deliberate. For instance, one senatorial district per state could be reserved for women on a rotational basis.”
Constitutional review vital for women’s participation in governance –Igbuzor
Popular human rights advocate, Dr Otive Igbuzor, said the reserved seats proposal aligns with global best practices and remains one of the most effective pathways to improving women’s participation in governance. Speaking during a Capacity Building for Women’s Rights Organisations on Engaging Male Allies, the activist stressed that “We support the Special Seats for Women Bill in the National Assembly. If you look across the world, particularly in Africa, the countries that have increased women’s participation did it through constitutional provision. “But Nigeria is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of women’s representation. The 10th National Assembly will write its name in gold if they pass the reserved seats bill, and we expect it will do just that.” Igbuzor noted that beyond political exclusion, Nigeria continues to grapple with entrenched structural inequalities that fuel gender-based violence and limit women’s access to power and decision-making. He warned that patriarchy remains deeply rooted in Nigeria’s social, cultural, religious, and political institutions, stressing that sustainable gender justice cannot be achieved without the active involvement of men.
Patriarchy limits women’s participation in politics –Donli
In her paper presentation titled, “Women’s Representation and Leadership in Politics in Borno State,” Prof Patricia Donli of the University of Maiduguri, decried women’s poor representation and participation in politics in Nigeria, adding that they were faced with a series of setbacks through the processes. Donli, who is also a Director with Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre (GEPaDC) Maiduguri, stressed that women had been grossly underrepresented in positions of power and authority, noting that the data for 2023 was so disappointing, adding that Senate (4/109); HoR (17/360); governor (0/36); deputy governor (8/36); vice president (0/1); president (0/1); ministers (7/45). She stated that leadership was viewed as a male domain; when most people think of a leader, they think of a man, to the extent that the patriarchal nature and the toxic masculinity of political affairs, deter women from participating equally in political affairs in Nigeria. The university don further noted that women politicians were viewed as an aberration and for that reason, they faced many challenges such as cultural and religious barriers limiting their political participation.
Women are the backbone of the electoral process –Suleiman
The Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the Edo State governor, Sally Suleiman, while reacting, has warned that women constitute the backbone of the electoral process. She regretted, however, that their presence in leadership remained disproportionately low despite their numerical strength and consistency at the polls. According to her, when women are part of leadership and decision-making, governance becomes more inclusive and balanced. “Policies become more inclusive, communities are better represented, and governance feels more balanced.” On the issue of affirmative action, Ms. Suleiman expressed strong support for reserved seats for women by saying, “It’s not about giving women positions out of sympathy; it’s about creating room for balance and fairness. For too long, the space has been dominated by men, and until there’s deliberate action like reserved seats, the imbalance will continue. Once the ground becomes truly level, women will compete and win on their own merit.”
Doubts over reserved seats for women bill
While the House of Representatives supports the creation of 182 new seats, a counter-proposal from the Senate is reportedly pushing to drastically slash the number of women-only seats in the upper chamber from 37 to just six, one per geopolitical zone. Beyond the disagreements between both chambers, the bill still faces formidable constitutional hurdles. It must secure the support of two-thirds of members in both chambers of the National Assembly, followed by ratification by at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies. Only then can it be transmitted to the President for assent. The proposed legislation would also require amendments to seven sections of the 1999 Constitution and may include a modification to section 42, the country’s anti-discrimination clause, to explicitly permit affirmative action frameworks. There are also indications that the bill may lack the support of some northern lawmakers, who view the proposed legislation as anti-Islam.
