Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger stakeholders advocate reserved seats for women in politics–Survey
By Reporters
Stakeholders in Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger States have called for deliberate measures, including the creation of special parliamentary seats, to boost women’s participation in politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
The stakeholders made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while assessing women’s political participation across the three states.
In Nasarawa, Mrs Veronica Ogbele, Chairperson of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, said allocating special seats to women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly would deepen democracy and promote gender balance.
Ogbele said Nigeria’s rating on women’s representation in governance was poor compared to smaller African nations, adding that the trend must be reversed.
“Even some small African countries are ahead of Nigeria in women’s representation.
“This is not good enough, and the narrative must change to boost inclusion and address the challenges facing women,” she said.
She proposed that each state should allocate at least one Senate seat, one House of Representatives seat, and three State Assembly seats to women.
Also, Mrs Amina Mohammed, the Vice Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in the state, said many gender-related bills failed to pass in legislative houses because women were underrepresented.
“Special seats will break barriers and create opportunities for women to excel politically.
“As journalists, we will continue to use our platforms to advocate for women’s rights and promote gender equity,” she said.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Abdullahi Sule, Mrs Beauty Ebu-Onyawoyi, commended the governor for appointing more women into key positions.
She urged others to actively participate in politics to consolidate the gains.
In Kogi, stakeholders emphasised that women’s participation in politics was essential for national development and inclusive governance.
A cleric with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Odiba James, said women’s underrepresentation in Nigeria’s parliament—currently less than five per cent—was worrisome.
“This under representation reflects deep-seated structural and cultural barriers. Women’s inclusion brings transparency, accountability, and policies that promote education, healthcare, and social welfare,” he said.
James described the proposed bill to create 74 additional seats for women in the National Assembly as a step in the right direction.
Mr Idris Miliki, the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), said women, as an integral part of society, should be fully involved in political decision-making.
“Women play vital roles in elections through mobilisation and voter participation.
“Reserving seats for them will strengthen democracy and ensure their voices are heard,” he said.
He said that modalities for selecting women into such reserved seats should be clearly defined to ensure equity among senatorial districts.
On his part, the Chairman of the Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET), Mr Hamza Aliyu, said women’s participation was about shaping the nation’s future and ensuring policies reflect the interests of all citizens.
“Women make up half of the population, and their perspectives are crucial for inclusive governance.
“Reserving between 30 and 50 per cent of seats for women would ensure that their voices are heard in decision-making bodies,” he said.
Aliyu stressed the need to remove barriers such as cultural stereotypes, funding gaps, and political violence that discourage women from contesting elections.
He also called for regular training, mentorship, and support networks to help women navigate the political space.
In Niger, a communication and security expert, Dr Abdullahi Jabi, said more women in politics would promote inclusiveness and reduce male dominance in governance.
“Let us revive the Beijing declaration which calls for 50 per cent representation of women in politics globally.
“Nigeria should make it a national policy to allocate at least 50 per cent of political positions to women,” he said.
Jabi noted that increased women participation would make democracy more participatory and reflective of the population’s diversity.
Mrs Deborah Salawu, a former Permanent Secretary in the Niger State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said women’s inclusion in politics would ensure gender balance in governance.
“Nigeria, being the giant of Africa, should be leading in women’s political participation, but unfortunately, that’s not the case due to religious, cultural, and socio-economic barriers,” she said.
Salawu urged the Federal Government to enact laws compelling political parties to reserve at least one seat for women in both national and state legislatures, as well as in local government councils.
“As mothers, perspective makes a difference; we are not taking anything from men; we only seek inclusion to contribute our quota to national development,” she added (NAN)
