Nigeria's 2027 Election Pushes for Women’s Participation to Curb Violence

Nigeria is preparing for the 2027 general elections amid concerns that electoral violence could repeat the deadly 2011 post‑election crisis, which left more than 800 people dead. Civil‑society groups, women leaders and peace advocates argue that greater inclusion of women in politics could help reduce intimidation and conflict. Former ADC commissioner Hafsat Mohammed Baba said women are natural peace advocates and urged parties to create genuine space for them, citing incidents where thugs disrupted party primaries and even locked her in a headquarters for refusing to push a woman out of a contest. Dr. Lydia Umar, executive director of the Gender Awareness Trust, cautioned that women’s participation alone may not stop violence and can expose them to new risks, stressing the need for media, religious and traditional institutions to support peaceful elections.

A separate commentary marks the 27th anniversary of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, lamenting persistent political dysfunction, court‑driven timetable changes, and intra‑party rivalries involving figures such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi. The piece highlights how legal maneuvering and party factionalism have eroded public confidence in the democratic process.