By GabrielAmeh
Abuja, Nigeria — As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) has renewed its call for the expedited passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, describing it as a pivotal reform needed to end the chronic underrepresentation of women in governance and decision-making across the country.
The call was made during the League’s three-day National Conference, Annual General Meeting, Founder’s Day, and Award Night held in Abuja over the weekend. The event, themed “The Power of Women’s Voices and Votes: A Critical Tool for Electoral Victory,” brought together women leaders, policymakers, and gender advocates from across Nigeria.
Participants unanimously agreed that the Reserved Seats Bill, currently before the National Assembly, would guarantee legislative seats exclusively contested by women a bold step toward promoting gender equity and inclusive governance in Nigeria’s political system.
President of NILOWV, Hon. Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, noted that the League had been consistent in amplifying women’s voices in national leadership. She highlighted that the League’s campaign, “Her Seats in Parliament,” launched in February 2025, has gained broad-based grassroots support across the country’s 774 local government areas.
“It was resolved that the League would focus its advocacy on the Reserved Seats Bill,” Awunah-Ikyegh said.
“We secured over 1.2 million signatures, engaged traditional and religious leaders, and presented our petition during the National Public Hearing. This is no longer a women’s issue it’s a national development issue.”
She emphasized that the 2027 elections will serve as a defining moment for women’s political participation.
“You cannot talk about 2027 without talking about the Reserved Seats Bill,” she declared. “Once passed, it will reshape Nigerian politics and restore the integrity of our democracy.”
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Ola Erinfolami, praised the League for its unwavering advocacy.
“This national conference underscores the importance of women’s voices, votes, and leadership to national development,” the Minister said. “Your work ensures that women’s participation in governance remains a national priority.”
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to gender equality through frameworks such as the National Gender Policy (2021–2026), the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy (2023), and the Renew Hope Social Impact Intervention 774, aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Reserved Seats Bill is a vital part of this transformation,” she added, describing the current National Assembly as “one of the most gender-sensitive in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
Founder of NILOWV, Dr. Esther Uduehi, also urged lawmakers to prioritize the Bill’s passage, warning that continued exclusion of women from political leadership would stall Nigeria’s progress.
“We are not asking for charity; we are asking for a fair chance,” she said. “If Nigeria continues to deny women a seat at the table, we may have to adopt the ‘Namibia model,’ where women have successfully taken charge across all arms of government.”
Panelists and experts at the conference echoed the same sentiment, stressing that increasing women’s participation in governance would enhance accountability, inclusivity, and development outcomes.
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 proposed seats will exist alongside current ones and be subject to review after a few election cycles to measure their impact.
Currently, women occupy less than seven percent of elective and appointive positions in Nigeria — far below the 35 percent affirmative action benchmark recommended by the National Gender Policy and global conventions Nigeria has ratified.
