The political landscape in Nigeria is on the brink of a significant transformation aimed at enhancing women’s representation. A proposed constitutional amendment could see the number of seats in the National Assembly increase, with additional spots reserved exclusively for women. This initiative, set to take effect during the 2027 general elections, aims to create a more inclusive governance structure.
The proposed changes would add 12 seats to the Senate, bringing the total to 121, and 37 seats to the House of Representatives, increasing it to 397. These additional seats would be filled through an electoral college system, ensuring that women from all six geopolitical zones, 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory have a voice in the legislative process.
Advocacy and Support for the Proposal
The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), in collaboration with sponsors of bills seeking special seats for women, has been instrumental in advocating for this change. Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, one of the bill’s sponsors, emphasized the strong support from both chambers of the National Assembly. However, he stressed the need for sustained lobbying to ensure the bill’s passage.
“Myself and a considerable number of members of the House of Representatives have been strong advocates of women’s inclusion in governance. That is why we are fully in support of the bill on special seats for women from the 11th National Assembly,” he said. Igariwey assured participants that the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as many federal lawmakers, were well disposed to the bill and would support it.
Mechanism for Selecting Women Representatives
The Executive Director of the African Parliamentary Resource Centre (APRC), Mr. John Ebikeseye, explained the proposed mechanism for selecting women representatives. The 12 additional Senate seats would be shared equally among the six geopolitical zones, with each zone producing two female senators. The 37 additional House of Representatives seats would be allocated one each to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Occupants of the proposed special seats would emerge through electoral colleges rather than direct elections. For Senate seats, the electoral college would comprise elected local government councillors, chairmen, and vice-chairmen within the affected senatorial districts. A similar arrangement would apply to the House of Representatives seats using elected local government officials within the affected federal constituencies.
The arrangement is proposed to run for four electoral cycles—2027, 2031, 2035, and 2039—to deepen women’s participation in governance before it is reviewed.
Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
The National President of NILOWV, Ms. Irene Ikyegh, addressed concerns that the campaign for special seats was intended to displace men from existing legislative positions. “This advocacy is not about taking legislative seats away from men but about creating additional seats for women to ensure inclusive participation in governance,” she said.
As the National Assembly Open Week progresses, Nigerian women have renewed calls for increased participation and representation in politics. They made the call at the “National Dialogue on the Electoral College Model for the Special Seat Bill” held in Abuja as part of activities marking the Open Week.
Declaring the event open, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara, said women in Nigeria had been excluded from political participation for too long. She stressed the need for genuine commitment to women’s inclusion, noting that the Special Seat for Women Bill would address the underrepresentation of women in governance.
Mrs. Fatima Tajudeen Abbas praised the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for promoting transparency, citizen participation, legislative reforms, and inclusive governance. She described the National Assembly Open Week as evidence of the legislature’s commitment to strengthening democracy through openness and engagement with citizens.
