…Says only political will can Nigeria’s 4% women representation

Women leaders, lawmakers, former legislators, civil society organisations and development partners have renewed calls for the passage of the Special Seats Bill, saying it remains one of the most viable options for addressing Nigeria’s poor representation of women in elective offices.

The call was made at a high-level dialogue on women’s political participation held during the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja.

Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, said Nigeria’s representation of women in the National Assembly, estimated at about four per cent, is among the lowest in Africa and requires deliberate legislative action.

According to her, democracy can only achieve its full potential when it reflects the voices of all citizens, regardless of gender, disability or social background.

Ogbara said the proposed Special Seats Bill would provide an opportunity to increase women’s participation in governance through additional legislative seats without displacing elected lawmakers.

“Women’s representation is not about charity or tokenism. It is about strengthening democracy, improving governance and ensuring that every segment of society has a voice in decision-making,” she said.

She compared Nigeria’s performance with that of other African countries, noting that Rwanda has more than 61 per cent female representation in parliament, South Africa about 46 per cent, Uganda 35 per cent and Kenya about 25 per cent, while Nigeria has approximately four per cent.

The lawmaker attributed the country’s low representation to cultural barriers, political violence, inadequate financial resources and limited institutional support for female candidates.

She also called for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance, stressing that electoral reforms should promote equal participation for all marginalised groups.

Speaking on the proposed Electoral College model under consideration as part of the Special Seats framework, Ogbara said it could provide an alternative approach to increasing women’s representation while addressing some of the challenges female aspirants encounter during party primaries.

She, however, urged stakeholders to continue engaging on the model to ensure transparency, accountability and broad public confidence.

“We must build political systems that work for women, persons with disabilities and every Nigerian whose voice has been left behind. Political will remains the missing ingredient,” she added.

Other speakers at the event said Nigeria must move beyond commitments to practical measures that will improve women’s participation in politics.

They urged political parties to provide greater support for female aspirants, eliminate discriminatory practices and create a more enabling environment for women seeking elective office.

The stakeholders also called on the National Assembly to sustain ongoing constitutional amendment efforts and secure the passage of the Special Seats Bill, maintaining that increased women’s representation would strengthen democratic governance and improve policy outcomes in the country.