From Ene Oshaba, Abuja
Stakeholders across all sectors, including government, political parties, civil society, development partners and communities, have been urged to support women aspirants at every stage of the political process; champion policies that increase women’s participation in decision-making; and foster mentorship, collaboration and accountability.
The call formed the core of deliberations at the National Convention on Women’s Roadmap to the 2027 General Elections organised by the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) in collaboration with partners, on Thursday at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja.
A communiqué issued at the end of the convention stressed the urgent need for coordinated national action to dismantle structural barriers limiting women’s political participation, while advancing inclusive policies that guarantee increased representation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the convention the Speaker of the House of Assembly represented by Chair, House Committee on Women Affairs Kafilat Ogbara, noted that the four per cent representation of women in the House of Representatives remains a “national embarrassment.”
Ogabara while commending male allies, called for decisive efforts to dismantle cultural and traditional barriers, stressing that the era of token participation was over.
“The four per cent representation of women in the House of Representatives is a national embarrassment. The era of tokenism is over; what we need now is decisive and meaningful participation, while confronting the cultural and traditional barriers that have long excluded women from leadership,” she stressed.
In his remarks, the Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Abubakar O. Suleiman, highlighted the numerical strength and potential of Nigerian women, urging the nation to harness this power for political and social transformation.
He emphasised the need to uphold the 35 per cent affirmative action policy as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive democracy, describing the persistent five per cent representation of women since 1999 as “appalling and unacceptable.”
“Women’s representation has remained a dismal five per cent since 1999 a situation that is both appalling and unacceptable. We must begin, collectively and strategically, to increase women’s seats ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
In the communiqué, participants agreed that women’s political inclusion has evolved into a central national priority, requiring deliberate strategies beyond legislative reforms.
“Legislative reforms alone are not enough; we need strong advocacy, grassroots mobilisation and deliberate engagement with political structures. Women must adopt assertive strategies to claim seats, rather than wait for opportunities to be handed to them,” the communique emphasised.
Voices at the convention, including the National President, National Council for Women Societies(NCWS) Edna D.D. Azura and, the President, League of Women Voters Irene
Irene Awunah Ikyegh, stressed that women are no longer peripheral actors but critical stakeholders shaping governance and development.
They called for assertive engagement within political parties and stronger grassroots mobilisation.
Speakers further identified systemic challenges confronting women aspirants, including cultural constraints, financial limitations and entrenched political gatekeeping within male-dominated party structures.
Meanwhile, the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs Uju Ken-Ohanenye, underscored the importance of strategic networking, competence and constituency loyalty, while Olorunandi Martins Chinuku highlighted the role of alliances and sustained party engagement.
Participants noted that electoral success depends on structured planning, voter mapping and sustained grassroots presence. They emphasised mentorship and resource-sharing as critical tools to bridge financial and logistical gaps that often hinder capable women from contesting.
The convention also stressed the importance of capacity building, advocating training in campaign management, electoral processes, political financing and public communication.
Grassroots engagement, participants noted, remains key to building trust and legitimacy among voters.
On ethical leadership, speakers called for courage, integrity and service-driven governance, urging women to confront injustice and prioritise societal impact over personal gain.
The communiqué further highlighted the need for cross-party solidarity among women, encouraging collaboration beyond political affiliations to strengthen collective influence and sustain political structures across election cycles.
Among key recommendations, stakeholders called for strengthened advocacy for reserved seats to guarantee at least 30 per cent representation for women in national and state assemblies, enhanced mentorship and resource mobilisation, and sustained grassroots political structures.
The convention concluded with a collective pledge by participants to translate commitments into action, ensuring that the roadmap to 2027 results in measurable progress in women’s political representation and leadership in Nigeria.
