Women leaders, civil society organisations and grassroots mobilisers from across the country returned to the National Assembly to press for the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill, saying many federal lawmakers had yet to see the petition backing the proposed legislation before the legislature proceeded on recess.

The rally, which coincided with the resumption of plenary by the National Assembly after recess, drew women representatives from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, who re-submitted petitions gathered from across the federation and urged lawmakers to support the bill aimed at expanding women’s representation in elective offices.

Speaking during the rally, President of the Nigeria League of Women Voters (NILOWV), Irene Awunah, said the women returned to the legislature because not all lawmakers had been reached with the petition before the recess.

According to her, the coalition considered it necessary to return immediately after resumption to ensure wider legislative awareness and support for the bill.

Awunah said the proposed Special Seats Bill seeks to correct what she described as Nigeria’s persistent democratic imbalance and systemic exclusion of women from governance.

“Nigerian women constitute approximately half of the nation’s population and play vital roles in national development, yet remain grossly underrepresented in governance, with representation hovering below five per cent in elective positions,” she said.

She argued that the bill would provide a constitutional mechanism for creating additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, thereby accelerating inclusive governance and aligning Nigeria with countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.

Awunah urged lawmakers in both chambers to mobilise support for the bill and ensure its swift passage when subjected to vote.

“We are asking members of the National Assembly to use their good offices to influence the passage of this bill, vote in its favour, and reject any opposition when it comes to the floor,” she said.

Also speaking, National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Princess Edna Azura, said Nigerian women were now united in demanding stronger political inclusion and would continue to push until the bill is passed.

“We are here to tell the 10th Assembly that we are very serious. We are not forcing them; we are pleading because this bill will salvage Nigeria,” she said.

Azura noted that despite Nigeria’s endorsement of several international gender equity protocols and longstanding affirmative action commitments, women still occupy barely four per cent of elective positions nationwide.

She lamented that while countries such as Rwanda have surpassed 60 per cent women’s parliamentary representation, Nigeria remains among the lowest globally.

“The women are ready, educated, experienced and politically prepared. We have seen women in office perform excellently. There is no reason to continue excluding women,” she said.

Azura added that women across the country had overcome previous divisions and were now united in one demand.

“Why things did not happen before was because we were scattered. Now women are speaking with one voice across Nigeria. Every woman you meet will tell you the same thing, pass this bill,” she said.

The proposed Special Seats for Women Bill forms part of ongoing constitutional amendment proposals before the National Assembly and seeks to create additional legislative seats reserved for women as a temporary affirmative action measure to boost female political participation.

Previous attempts to pass similar measures in past assemblies failed to secure sufficient legislative support.

No member of the National Assembly addressed the protesters during the demonstration, however the women vowed to sustain pressure on lawmakers until the bill is passed.