As Nigeria prepares for another electoral cycle ahead of the 2027 general elections, concerns over political violence, voter intimidation, and electoral insecurity continue to dominate national conversations.
Across the country, civil society groups, women leaders, and peace advocates are increasingly calling for greater inclusion of women in politics, arguing that women’s participation could play a significant role in reducing electoral violence and promoting peaceful democratic engagement.
Nigeria has a long history of election-related violence. The 2011 post-election crisis remains one of the deadliest in the country’s democratic history. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), more than 800 people were killed in post-election violence that erupted across 12 northern states after the presidential election.
The violence displaced thousands and exposed the deep political and ethnic tensions surrounding elections in the country.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, concerns about violence resurfaced, but many observers believe that increasing women’s participation in politics may help change the tone of political engagement in Nigeria.
Former commissioner for human services and social development and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hafsat Mohammed Baba believes women can contribute significantly to peaceful elections if political parties genuinely create space for them.
According to her, women are naturally advocates of peace and inclusion. She said that when women are involved in any decision for the progress of a nation, they give their very best, including by promoting peace and avoiding electoral violence.
However, she noted that many women face serious obstacles within political parties, especially during party primaries. “At the initial stage, women normally come out to participate, but you find out that they are being edged out, most especially at the primary elections,” she said.
She described how violence and intimidation often discourage women from contesting. “The majority of the men come with thugs, and then they disrupt the primaries,” Baba stated. “Once there is violence, people will be running for their lives.”
Despite these challenges, she insisted that women should remain determined to participate in politics, stressing that it is better for women to go to the polls and lose than to step down.
Baba also recounted her personal experience with political intimidation. “There was a time when I was the National Woman Leader, and a woman was contesting. I was asked to ensure that she stepped down for a man, which I said I would not do,” she recalled.
“At the end of the day, I was locked up in the party headquarters for almost one day because I refused.”
For grassroots peacebuilding, she emphasized sensitization, dialogue, and advocacy. She added that the media was a very important tool since there are programs dedicated to nonviolent elections. Other important institutions, she said, include traditional institutions, religious institutions, and engaging with men as partners in progress.
Dr. Lydia Umar, the executive director of Gender Awareness Trust, offered a more cautious perspective. While she supports increased women’s participation in politics, she argued that participation alone may not automatically reduce violence.
“If anything, it is when women participate that they become more exposed to such violence because many people see them as a threat.”
She explained that many women avoid politics because of fear. “The fear of being attacked and the fear of violence make them feel that it is not worth it, so they prefer to stay at home,” Dr. Umar said. Still, she stressed that women must continue demanding their constitutional rights.
On the role of grassroots women’s groups, Dr. Umar emphasized peace advocacy and community influence.“They can help by advocating for peaceful elections and by promoting peace themselves,” she said.
She added, “They should also discourage young people and their children from participating in violence.”
Research and international studies increasingly support the idea that inclusive governance contributes to democratic stability. The United Nations Women, Peace and Security framework argues that women’s participation in governance strengthens conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts.
Studies from Lund University have also shown that women are more likely to prioritize dialogue, social welfare, and peaceful conflict resolution. A 2020 study by the university found that the Women’s Situation Room initiative helped reduce risks of electoral violence during Nigeria’s 2015 elections. Women-led mediation and early warning systems reportedly improved community trust and helped address election-related tensions before they escalated.
Despite this evidence, women remain significantly underrepresented in Nigerian politics. A report by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre revealed that Nigeria ranks among the lowest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in women’s parliamentary representation.
Out of Nigeria’s 360-member House of Representatives, only 16 are women, while just four women serve in the 109-member Senate. Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, no woman has been elected president, vice president, or governor.
This poor representation contrasts sharply with demographic realities. According to the World Bank, women and girls constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population.
Peace advocate and youth empowerment promoter Eric John believes societal attitudes continue to discourage women from entering politics. “Politics in this environment is highly competitive and often harsh,” he said.
He noted that women often bring calmer and more peaceful approaches to political activities. “During rallies and campaigns, women often encourage calmness, vigilance, and lawfulness,” he explained. “In many cases, rallies led or strongly supported by women tend to have less involvement of thugs or disruptive elements.”
According to him, most violent political incidents are usually associated with male-dominated political structures, and women are more likely to de-escalate tensions, even calling on their supporters to avoid confrontation..
Similarly, Halima Akilu Yunusa, a Kaduna State House of Assembly aspirant from Kajuru Local Government Area, believes women’s natural protective instincts make them less likely to support violence.
“A mother would never support anything that could harm her child,” she said. “Because women are protective by nature, they would not want to send another person’s child into danger either.”
She argued that women politicians rarely encourage political thuggery, nor do they supply drugs to youth to encourage bad behavior.
According to her, increasing women’s representation could significantly reduce election violence.“If women could occupy even 30 percent of political positions, they would know how to properly control and guide the youth so that campaigns would remain peaceful,” she said.
Coordinator of Peace Network Journalists Ibrahima Yakubu also believes women-led political movements tend to encourage peaceful campaigns.
However, he noted that peaceful politics ultimately depends on values and leadership styles, not gender alone.
While increasing women’s participation may not completely eliminate electoral violence, advocates insist it can help create a more peaceful political culture rooted in dialogue, inclusion, and community engagement.
Keywords: Nigeria, women, political, participation, involvement, election, election violence, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, Nigerian
Mohammed Ibrahim
Mohammed is a multimedia freelance journalist in Kaduna State, Nigeria. He graduated from the International Institute of Journalism Abuja. In 2016 Mohammed received the Courage in Journalism Award for his investigative reporting, from the Africa Media Development Foundation.
