INEC urges Nigerian political parties to increase women's representation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on Nigerian political parties to implement concrete measures to increase women’s representation in leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections. During a strategic engagement in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, represented by National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus, urged leaders to move beyond rhetoric to ensure democracy achieves its full representative potential.

Data presented by the commission highlights a significant gap between female voter registration and political candidacy. While women comprised 47.52 per cent of the 93,469,008 registered voters in 2023, they accounted for only 10.15 per cent of the 15,331 candidates for major elective positions. The disparity was even more pronounced among elected officials; in the 2023 Senate, women secured only 2.8 per cent of the seats.

Recent registration trends show women are highly active in the electorate, making up 52.68 per cent of the 2,037,589 citizens who completed the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. Despite this numerical strength, officials noted that women continue to face barriers in transitioning from voters to meaningful political leaders.