A major push for women’s political representation is set to take place in Abuja on Monday as more than 750 women from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory converge to demand the passage of the Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill.
The women, under the Women’s Political Participation Technical Working Group (WPP–TWG), will gather at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development before embarking on a peaceful walk to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where they plan to submit a memorandum in support of the bill.
The action is expected to continue despite the National Assembly currently being on recess, according to a press statement signed by Ebere Ifendu, Chair of WPP–TWG.
Ifendu described the initiative as a united show of determination by Nigerian women to claim their rightful place in governance.
“The Reserved Seats Bill is not just about numbers. It is about securing women’s rightful place in governance and ensuring that the voices of Nigerian women are heard where decisions that affect their lives are made,” the statement quoted her as saying.
The group also called on the media to intensify their support.
“An ally we’ve had so far in this journey in getting the Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill is the media. Now, at this critical moment, we need the media to forge ahead as a true ally to raise critical awareness on the bill for the legislators to pass it,” the statement added.
The Reserved Seats Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create additional seats specifically for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Advocates say the measure will strengthen inclusive governance, guarantee greater representation, and close Nigeria’s gender gap in political leadership.
Currently, women occupy only three seats in the 109-member Senate and 17 in the 360-member House of Representatives less than 5 percent of the federal legislature. At the state level, women hold fewer than 50 seats across 36 Houses of Assembly. Nigeria consistently ranks among the lowest in Africa for female representation, a gap campaigners say the Reserved Seats Bill is designed to close.
