Declining Female Representation: Nigerian 2027 Elections See Fewer Women Contesting Elective Positions

The forthcoming 2027 general elections in Nigeria are set to feature a reduced number of women contesting elective positions, a trend observed despite growing advocacy for gender inclusion. This development follows the recent primary elections across various political parties, where a significant number of female aspirants either withdrew, were not included in consensus arrangements, or were defeated in the initial stages of the electoral process.

The Shrinking Role of Women in Nigerian Politics

An examination by Weekend Trust correspondents indicates a clear hierarchy in women's political aspirations: a higher proportion of women initially expressed interest in state assembly seats, with numbers progressively dwindling for House of Representatives, then drastically for Senate, and reaching a critically low point for governorship positions.

Upon the release of presidential candidate lists for 2027 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only two out of eighteen candidates, representing 11.1 per cent of the total, are women. This stark figure exists despite women constituting 49.32 per cent of Nigeria's total population. The female presidential candidates include Ada Elizabeth Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Esther Iken Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM). They are set to compete against fifteen male counterparts, including incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Additionally, four women have emerged as vice-presidential candidates: Hajiya Bintu Konto (LP), Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP), Nafisat Usaku (DLA), and Patience Key (YPP).

National Assembly and State-Level Disparity

INEC figures obtained by Weekend Trust reveal that out of 4,863 candidates listed for the Senate and House of Representatives elections, only 469 are women. This translates to fewer than one in ten candidates for the National Assembly being female, and just over one in ten for the presidency.

The Senate exhibits the lowest female representation, with 123 women among 1,303 candidates (9.4 per cent). The House of Representatives fares slightly better, with 346 female candidates out of 3,560 (9.7 per cent). These statistics underscore a persistent pattern in Nigerian politics: women are extensively involved in electoral activities but remain significantly underrepresented in legislative bodies where crucial political decisions are made.

Historical data reinforces this trend. In 2015, only one woman contested the presidency, alongside four female vice-presidential candidates across fourteen participating political parties. While female participation saw an increase in 2019, with five women vying for the presidency and twenty-three for the vice-presidency across seventy-two parties, the 2023 election saw a regression to just one female presidential candidate and no female vice-presidential candidates, with the number of parties returning to eighteen.

Since Nigeria's return to democratic governance in 1999, women have consistently experienced underrepresentation in parliament. The 10th National Assembly, for instance, comprises merely 3.7 per cent female senators and 4.4 per cent female members of the House of Representatives. Alarmingly, fourteen state assemblies currently lack any female representation. These states include Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Plateau.

Current female representation in the Senate includes Ireti Kingibe, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ipalibo Banigo, and Idiat Oluranti Adebule – a mere four out of 109 senators. In the Green Chamber, only seventeen women serve out of 360 members, constituting 4.7 per cent of the legislative seats.

Challenges and Proposed Solutions for Women in Politics

As the primary election processes draw to a close, the consistent decline in female political participation prompts renewed questions, particularly in light of global examples and encouragement for women in leadership. Political analysts note that countries with fewer economic resources have achieved significantly higher levels of female political inclusion, citing Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as prominent examples. In the past, concerted efforts, including sensitisation campaigns and the provision of free nomination forms by many political parties, were made to encourage women's participation.

Concerned groups and individuals attribute the diminishing numbers to various factors:

High cost of political participation.
Entrenched cultural and religious restrictions.
Negative perceptions surrounding women in politics.
Forced withdrawals of female aspirants.
Opaque consensus arrangements within parties.
Last-minute candidate substitutions.
Limited access to campaign financing.
Weak political networks.
Dominance of male politicians within party structures.
Harassment and gender-based abuse, including on social media.

A coalition of women-led movements and civil society organisations recently voiced alarm over these trends, warning that the 2027 elections could yield even fewer female lawmakers than the 2023 polls without urgent reforms. Bukky Shonibare, Executive Director of Invictus Africa, presented audit findings from the primaries, indicating critically low female participation across most parties. Only three out of twenty-two political parties registered female aspirant participation above 20 per cent: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 28.2 per cent, Young Progressives Party (YPP) with 22.2 per cent, and Young Progressives Party (YP) with 20 per cent. Notably, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) recorded 11.8 per cent, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had 10.4 per cent, and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) registered no female aspirants. The audit further revealed that only three women emerged as senatorial candidates across all parties, sparking fears that women might occupy only 2.7 per cent of Senate seats post-2027 if current trends persist.

Toun Okewale Sonaiya, co-founder and Executive Director of the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, and Aisha Abdullahi Hudu, CEO and founder of United Women for Peace Initiative, both warned of a potential regression in women's political representation, with Hudu explicitly stating that men "don’t want women to occupy one seat to the other."

The Reserved Seat Bill for Women

A potential legislative solution is the Reserved Seat bill, currently part of constitutional amendment discussions. This proposed legislation seeks to create additional elective seats exclusively for women at all legislative levels: one extra seat for women per state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, one extra seat for women per state and the FCT in the House of Representatives, and three additional women-only seats in each State House of Assembly. If enacted, this bill would expand Nigeria’s legislature to 146 senators, 397 members of the House, and 1,098 state legislators. These reserved seats would offer equal status, powers, and privileges to existing ones, and women occupying them would not be precluded from contesting regular seats.

Fatima Muhammad Paga, UN Women Focal Person to the Governor of Yobe State, has urged the National Assembly to pass this bill, describing it as a crucial step towards deepening democracy and fostering inclusive governance. She believes it would significantly encourage women's active participation in politics and nation-building, providing a platform for them to influence policies and decisions affecting the lives of Nigerians.

Malam Ibraheem Abubakar, a current affairs commentator, highlighted the specific challenges in northern states, including cultural and religious perceptions, limited access to campaign financing, and the dominance of male political networks. Analysts generally agree that without deliberate efforts from political parties, voters, and institutions to address funding, violence, and internal party democracy, female electoral success in Nigeria will remain low.

State-Specific Insights into Female Candidacy for 2027

Kano: Only one female candidate, Na’ima Yahaya of the ADC, is contesting a state assembly seat for Ungogo constituency. Major parties primarily nominated men, often through consensus.
Yobe: Two women, Fatima Talba (APC) for Nangere/Potiskum federal constituency and Zainab Boni Haruna (ADC) for Fika/Fune federal constituency, have secured House of Representatives tickets. Talba seeks a third term. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, an incumbent, lost her APC ticket. Neither the PDP nor YPP fielded female National Assembly candidates.
Borno: Hajiya Fati Kakenna (APC) secured the Guzamala/Kukawa/Abadam/Mobbar federal constituency seat unopposed. Another incumbent, Zainab Gimba, lost her APC ticket.
Adamawa: Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani (NDC) is contesting for governorship. Other female candidates include Golfa Mallim Chaugwarau (APC) for Shelleng/Guyuk federal constituency, Hyellagiziya Naiwa Fakuta (ADC) for Michika/Madagali federal constituency, Hajiya Ramatu Sali Bello (APC) for Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha federal constituency, and Hajiya Atika Ibrahim Sajoh (NDC) for Mubi North state assembly.
Nasarawa: Hajara Ibrahim Danyaro (APC) retained her Nasarawa Central constituency seat in the State House of Assembly for a second term. She is only the second woman to win an assembly seat in Nasarawa, following Mary Enwogulu (2007-2011), who served as Minority Leader. Farida Umar (PDP) is contesting for Lafia/Obi federal constituency, and Mbikyu Maidoki (Labour Party) for Akwanga North state assembly. Historical data shows only three women (Patricia Akwashiki, Mary Enwogulu, Hajara Ibrahim Danyaro) have won elections in the state since 1999.
Katsina: Hajiya Jamila Abdu Mani (APC) is the sole female candidate to secure a party ticket, winning the Mani/Bindawa federal constituency House of Representatives seat. Other female aspirants in PDP and SDP were unsuccessful.
Bauchi: The Allied Progressive Movement (APM), PDP, and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) have nominated women. APM has Hajara Yakubu Wanka (Alkaleri/Kirfi federal constituency) and Hajara Gidado (Jamaare/Itas federal constituency). PDP nominated Maryam Bagel (Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency). PRP nominated Hajiya Zainab Babantakko (Bauchi Central state constituency), who defected from APC. Historically, only three women have been elected to the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
Zamfara: Lubna Baba Gusau, an APC aspirant for Zamfara Central senatorial ticket, is currently challenging the primary election results in court.
Edo: Out of fifteen female aspirants, six emerged as candidates. These include Maria Iseme Osaimoje (NDC) for Edo North senatorial, Herberta Inemezele Okonofua (ADC) for Edo Central senatorial, Omosede Igbinedion (APC) for Ovia federal constituency, and Natasha Osawaro (NDC) for Egor state constituency.
Gombe: Fatima Binta Bello (APC) for Kaltungo/Shongom federal constituency is the only female contestant for any elective position from the state. All twenty-four state assembly candidates from ADC, APC, and PDP are male. Historically, two women have served in the State House of Assembly and two in the National Assembly from Gombe.
Ondo: Few female politicians emerged from the APC, with no female candidates from other parties. Omowunmi Ohwovoriole (APC) secured the Akure North/Akure South federal constituency for the House of Representatives, and Adeola Rosemary Fynch (APC) won the Akure South constituency I state assembly ticket. Other high-profile female aspirants, like Princess Oladunni Odu and Jumoke Akindele, were unsuccessful in their bids for senatorial seats.
Cross River: The state has three female candidates for the state House of Assembly (Bridget Alina, Esther Bepeh, Majorie Asuquo), two for the House of Representatives (Dr Stella Odey-Ekpo, Mrs Blessing Egbara), and four for the PDP in unspecified roles.
Kwara: The ruling APC will field four incumbent female lawmakers for re-election in the State House of Assembly: Rukayat Shittu (Owode Onire), Arinola Fatimah Lawal (Ilorin East), Maryam Aladi (Afon), and Medinat Folorunsho Salaudeen (Moro). The opposition PDP has also produced four female House of Assembly candidates: Ibrahim Mojirayo Sherifat (Omupo), Aliu Mariam (Ilorin Central), Agoro Suliat Omolola (Ilorin North West), and Adeniran Muslimat Oluwatoyin (Isin).
Kogi: Besides Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP) representing the central district, two incumbent female State House of Assembly lawmakers, Mrs Omotayo Adeleye-Ishaya (Ijumu constituency, APC) and Mrs Comfort Nwuchola (Ibaji constituency, APC), are expected to seek re-election, though this awaits official confirmation.

Advocacy for Increased Participation

Seun Bosede Osamaye, Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, attributed the low participation of women to societal stereotypes and ingrained gender biases. Dame Olubukola Adesina, a gender inclusion advocate, advocated for stronger implementation of gender inclusion policies and greater support for female aspirants, including the 35 per cent affirmative action policy. Cynthia Mbamalu of Yiaga Africa urged INEC to publish comprehensive gender-disaggregated audit reports to highlight exclusionary practices. Adaora Sydney Jack of Gender Strategy Advancement International argued that the exclusion is structural, while Ebere Ifendu of the Women in Politics Forum called on political parties to uphold their constitutions against violence and discrimination. Mabel Oboh, ADC South-South zonal publicity secretary, concluded that systemic barriers such as money, violence, intimidation, and patriarchal attitudes continue to hinder women's political advancement.