…Seek urgent passage ahead of 2027 elections
A coalition of women’s rights and democracy advocacy organisations has issued a strong call for the immediate passage of the Special Seats Bill, describing it as a democratic necessity and a defining test of Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The groups, led by the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Media, Safe Point and Care Initiative and other civil society actors, raised the alarm in a press statement on Wednesday, warning that women’s political exclusion is becoming more entrenched at a time when Nigeria’s democratic space is already under severe strain.
At the centre of their demands is the Special Seats Bill, which seeks to create additional legislative seats for women as a temporary affirmative action measure to address Nigeria’s persistently low female representation in elective office. According to the coalition, the bill has moved beyond advocacy and symbolism and now represents the most realistic pathway to reversing decades of structural exclusion.
“Nigeria cannot continue to organise elections while systematically excluding half of its population from political decision-making,” the statement said. “Affirmative legislative intervention is no longer optional.”
The coalition noted that Nigerian women continue to face intersecting barriers including political violence, the monetisation of politics, exclusion from party leadership structures and a shrinking civic space. These factors, they argued, have combined to keep women’s representation among the lowest globally, despite women making up nearly half of the country’s population.
They stressed that the Special Seats Bill offers a constitutionally grounded and non-disruptive solution, as it expands representation without displacing current office holders, while strengthening democratic legitimacy and stability.
The groups called on the 10th National Assembly to fast-track the bill and urged the Executive to publicly endorse it and commit to prompt assent once passed. They described such action as a political win for the legislature and a signal of seriousness about democratic reform.
Concerns over women’s exclusion were further underscored by the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention Committee, which includes only three women out of 73 members. The coalition said the figure, representing just over four per cent, contradicts the ruling party’s stated commitment to inclusion and affirmative action.
“A ruling party that cannot demonstrate basic gender inclusion within its own highest structures raises serious questions about its readiness to champion inclusive governance nationally,” the statement warned.
While acknowledging recent efforts at electoral reform, the groups also expressed concern over provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill passed by the Senate, particularly those perceived as weakening the mandatory electronic transmission of election results. They cautioned that any rollback could undermine transparency and public trust in the electoral process.
The coalition also urged women politicians across party lines to break what it described as a troubling silence over ongoing political manoeuvring ahead of 2027, calling on them to provide visible leadership at this critical moment.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads,” the statement concluded. “A democracy that excludes women is not merely incomplete; it is unstable, unjust and unsustainable. The time to act is now.”
