Yemi Obafemi
The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) has raised concern over the low representation of women among candidates contesting the 2027 National Assembly elections, saying women account for only about 10 per cent of the 4,408 candidates on the ballot.
The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) made this known in a presidential address by its President to mark the 2026 International Day of Democracy on September 15, 2026.
According to the statement, 3,965 of the candidates contesting Senate and House of Representatives seats are men, while only 443 are women, meaning that for roughly every one woman on the National Assembly ballot, there are about nine men.
NILOWV said the figures highlight the continuing imbalance between women’s participation in political activities and their representation in political power.
“Women are often visible in political mobilisation but invisible in political power,” the organisation said, adding that participation must translate into meaningful representation.
The organisation also identified financial barriers, intimidation, discrimination, political structures and gender-based attacks among the factors that discourage women from seeking elective office.
NILOWV, which said it has advocated for women’s political participation for 30 years, commended the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for recording the highest number of women on the National Assembly ballot among the political parties, with 11 female Senate candidates and 42 female House of Representatives candidates.
It, however, said the responsibility for improving women’s representation should not be left to one political party, urging all political parties to review their nomination processes, address financial barriers and provide women with meaningful opportunities to compete.
The organisation also called for issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, urging candidates to focus on their manifestos, policies and records rather than personal attacks, particularly against female candidates.
“A woman should not have to defend her marital status before she can defend her manifesto,” NILOWV said.
It further renewed its call on the National Assembly to pass the Special Seats Bill for Women when it resumes in September, arguing that the existing system has not produced sufficient representation.
The statement said current parliamentary data puts women’s representation at approximately 4.2 per cent in the House of Representatives and 3.7 per cent in the Senate.
NILOWV also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to communicate more effectively with citizens and civil society organisations about its preparedness for the 2027 elections, particularly on voter registration, accreditation, election technology, logistics, accessibility, results management and election security.
The organisation called on the media to focus political reporting on candidates’ policies, visions and records, saying the electorate needs information that can help them make informed decisions.
It also urged Nigerian women not to retreat from political participation despite the challenges, while calling on young Nigerians and persons with disabilities to remain active participants in the democratic process.
