Women make up just 10% of National Assembly candidates as group calls for inclusive politics, issue-based campaigns and electoral reforms

By Chioma Vivian James

The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) has raised concerns over the low representation of women among candidates contesting the 2027 National Assembly elections, calling on political parties to create greater opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in electoral politics and governance.

President of NILOWV, Hon. Irene Awunah Ikyegh, made the call in a statement issued to mark the 2026 International Day of Democracy, stressing that democracy could only be meaningful when all citizens have genuine opportunities to participate in political leadership.

According to NILOWV, a total of 4,408 candidates are contesting Senate and House of Representatives seats in the 2027 elections, comprising 3,965 men and only 443 women.

The figures, the organisation noted, mean that women account for approximately 10 per cent of the candidates, highlighting what it described as a persistent gap between women’s active participation in political activities and their access to elective office.

Ikyegh observed that Nigerian women continue to play significant roles as voters, campaigners and political mobilisers, but their numbers decline considerably when political parties select candidates and allocate elective positions.

She attributed the disparity to several barriers, including the high cost of nomination forms, limited access to party structures, political intimidation, discrimination, sexual harassment and online abuse.

The NILOWV President said addressing these obstacles would require deliberate reforms within political parties and broader measures to make the electoral environment more accessible and equitable.

The organisation commended the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for fielding 11 female Senate candidates and 42 female House of Representatives candidates, noting that the figures represented a comparatively stronger level of women’s participation.

NILOWV, however, urged other political parties to review their nomination processes, reduce financial barriers and provide women with fair opportunities to contest elective positions and assume leadership responsibilities.

Beyond candidate selection, the organisation called for a shift towards issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.

It urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to focus public debates on manifestos, records, policies and practical solutions to the challenges confronting Nigerians, rather than candidates’ marital status, physical appearance or private lives.

According to Ikyegh, the 2027 political campaigns should give greater attention to issues such as education, healthcare, food prices, employment, insecurity, electricity supply, road infrastructure, access to justice, opportunities for young people and protection from gender-based violence.

Special Seats Bill

NILOWV also renewed its call for the passage of the Special Seats Bill for Women, pointing to the continued low representation of women in the National Assembly.

The organisation cited current parliamentary figures indicating that women occupy approximately 4.2 per cent of seats in the House of Representatives and 3.7 per cent in the Senate.

It urged lawmakers to give serious consideration to the bill when the National Assembly resumes, arguing that increased representation of women would expand opportunities for women and girls to participate in political leadership and contribute to legislative processes.

INEC, Media and Voter Responsibility

The group also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen communication with citizens and civil society organisations on critical aspects of the electoral process.

It identified voter registration, election technology, logistics, accessibility, results management and security as areas requiring clear and timely communication.

NILOWV further urged electoral authorities to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in the electoral process.

The organisation appealed to the media to make candidates’ policies, records and public programmes central to political reporting, rather than giving undue attention to their personal lives.

It also encouraged young Nigerians to read candidates’ manifestos, question political promises and verify information before sharing it, particularly in an increasingly digital campaign environment.

Ikyegh called on Nigerian women to remain engaged in politics despite the barriers they face, while urging political actors to ensure that persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups are not excluded from political participation.

She also appealed to Nigerians not to lose faith in democracy but to demand greater accountability, transparency and inclusion from political institutions and elected representatives.

“Democracy ultimately belongs to citizens,” the organisation stressed, urging Nigerians to exercise their civic responsibilities and remain active in shaping the country’s political future.