Nigeria stakeholders call for reforms to increase women’s political inclusion

During the 30th anniversary summit of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) in Abuja, stakeholders called for concrete actions to improve women’s political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), emphasized that women’s inclusion is a democratic necessity rather than a favor. Represented by Prince Chinedu Obi, Dantalle identified political parties as critical gatekeepers that control candidate nominations, campaign financing, and party manifestos.

To address these barriers, IPAC proposed a “Women’s Political Inclusion Compact.” This non-partisan framework aims to unite political parties, civil society, and women’s organizations around six key commitments: transparent party processes, practical support for female candidates, zero tolerance for political violence, evidence-based voter education, a cross-party women’s policy agenda, and annual public accountability scorecards.