The European Union has intensified efforts to advance women’s political participation through a high-level strategy meeting held in Abuja, ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
Nigeria has long struggled with low female representation in politics despite being a signatory to several international and regional frameworks promoting gender equality, including the Beijing Declaration and the African Union’s Protocol on Women’s Rights.
Although women constitute nearly half of the country’s population and play significant roles as voters and grassroots mobilisers, their presence in elective and appointive positions has remained consistently low since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
According to a statement by the EU on Tuesday, the meeting was organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, both cohort members of the European Union’s flagship democratic governance programme, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law.
The meeting, themed Advancing Women’s Political Leadership: Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Representation in 2027, brought together lawmakers, civil society actors, development partners, and political stakeholders to assess progress on women’s inclusion and the proposed Special Seats Bill, while mapping strategies ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Nigeria’s representation gap has remained a source of concern for stakeholders. Data from recent elections show that women occupy less than 10 per cent of elective positions nationwide, placing Nigeria among the lowest-ranking countries in Africa in terms of gender inclusion in politics. The 2023 general election, in particular, saw a decline in the number of women elected into the National Assembly, despite increased advocacy and participation.
Speaking at the event, Governance and Gender Adviser at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Laolu Olawumi, emphasised the importance of political will in advancing women’s representation.
She noted that “As the 2027 elections approach, the constitutional reform process presents a critical opportunity to promote inclusion,” stressing that women’s participation remains essential for equality, development, and democracy despite persistent barriers.
Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, raised concern over the underrepresentation of women in state legislatures, noting that “fifteen states currently have no female representation in their State Houses of Assembly,” a situation he described as a significant gap in Nigeria’s democratic inclusion.
He emphasised the urgency of passing the Special Seats Bill, stating that without it, broader constitutional amendments would fall short of meaningful progress on inclusion. The proposed bill, which has been the subject of debate in recent years, seeks to create additional legislative seats specifically for women as a temporary affirmative action measure aimed at correcting historical imbalances.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, highlighted structural barriers that continue to limit women’s access to leadership. She noted that although women actively participate as voters and campaign supporters, they remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making spaces.
Observers have attributed this imbalance to a mix of factors, including the high cost of political campaigns, violence and intimidation during elections, deeply entrenched patriarchal norms, and the lack of internal democracy within political parties, which often sidelines female aspirants during candidate selection processes.
Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Associate Professor Uju Agomoh, called for a shift from dialogue to action, expressing concern over the persistent lack of inclusiveness in Nigeria’s political system.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN, called for greater trust in women’s leadership capabilities, emphasising that women have consistently demonstrated competence in leadership roles.
Also speaking, Gaza Gbefwi, a member of the House of Representatives, expressed optimism about the prospects of the Special Seats Bill, citing growing momentum and national attention. He, however, stressed the need to address cultural, religious, and societal barriers that continue to hinder women’s full participation, while promoting new narratives that support inclusion.
The renewed push comes amid increasing pressure on Nigeria to meet global benchmarks, including the widely recommended 30 to 35 per cent affirmative action target for women in governance. Previous national gender policies have set similar targets, but implementation has remained weak, with limited enforcement mechanisms and political buy-in.
The meeting concluded with renewed calls for sustained advocacy, stronger political commitment, and institutional reforms within political parties and governance structures to improve women’s representation ahead of the 2027 elections.
