Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged political parties to translate promises into concrete action to improve women’s participation in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission made the call on Wednesday, 9th September 2026, during a strategic engagement with party leaders, female candidates, civil society organisations, development partners and the media at Rockview Hotel Royale, Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said a democracy that mobilises women as voters but offers limited pathways to leadership has not fully realised its representative potential.
‘A democracy that mobilises women as voters but provides limited pathways for them to become political leaders is yet to fully realise its representative potential.
‘The question before us is not simply about participation in one electoral cycle, but about the character, inclusiveness and long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy,’ she said.
Prof. Gumus noted that women remain a major part of the electorate. In the 2023 General Election, she said, 44,414,846 of the 93,469,008 registered voters, or 47.52 per cent, were women.
She added that women also formed the majority of new registrants in the third phase of the 2027 Continuous Voter Registration as of July 26, 2026. Of the 3,867,997 persons who completed registration, 2,037,589 were women, representing 52.68 per cent.
However, she said this numerical strength is not reflected in candidacy and elective office.
Citing 2023 data, she stated that only 1,556 of 15,331 candidates for major elective positions, or 10.15 percent, were women. Just three women were elected to the Senate and 16 to the House of Representatives, representing 2.8 percent and 4.4 per cent, respectively.
‘A substantial gap exists between women’s participation as voters and their participation as political leaders,’ she said.
Prof. Gumus urged parties to provide practical support to female candidates in areas such as access to party structures, campaign platforms, media visibility, fundraising, mentoring, logistics, security and grassroots mobilisation.
‘The participation of women is not a favour to women. It is a democratic imperative,’ she said, calling for a shift ‘from commitment to action, from aspiration to implementation.’
The Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, represented by the Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said advancing women’s political participation requires collective action.
She noted that political parties, as the main vehicles for elective office, bear direct responsibility through their policies and internal processes.
Seven objectives were outlined for the engagement, including securing measurable commitments from parties, ensuring equitable access to campaign resources, increasing visibility for female candidates, and strengthening protection against violence and harassment.
Deputy Director, Gender Relations, Mrs. Hembadoon Akaayar, who presented the objectives, said INEC expects ‘practical and measurable commitments from participating political parties rather than general expressions of goodwill.’
In a keynote address, former INEC Director and ex-Edo Attorney General, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, Esq., said Nigeria lags behind other countries in women’s representation. While women make up about 50 percent of the population and electorate, they hold only about 5 percent of seats in the National Assembly, and no woman has been elected President or Governor.
He cited examples from Rwanda, Senegal, Namibia and South Africa where quotas and political will have improved representation, and recommended stronger legal frameworks, dedicated campaign funding for women, mentorship, and zero tolerance for intimidation and harassment.
INEC urged all parties to use the engagement to make specific commitments to female candidates ahead of 2027, stressing that women who constitute almost half the electorate should also have fair opportunities in leadership.