Maureen Okpe
The Women’s Political Participation–Technical Working Group (WPP–TWG) will on Monday, 22 September 2025, lead over 750 Nigerian women from all 36 states and the FCT in a major push for the passage of the Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill.
The coordinated action, which includes a peaceful walk and submission of a memorandum, represents one of the most significant nationwide mobilisations for women’s representation in Nigeria’s political history.
Read Also: Young Women in Politics Canvass Special Seats Bill to boost Women’s Representation
Chair of the WPP–TWG,Ebere Ifendu, in a statement weekend said, the women will assemble at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in Abuja before proceeding in a peaceful march to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. There, they are expected to present the memorandum to the leadership of the National Assembly during a scheduled stakeholder engagement.
According to Ifendu,“Our goal is clear. We are demanding the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, not as a favour, but as a constitutional guarantee for Nigerian women to be included in decision-making spaces. This memorandum represents the voice of millions of women calling for their rightful place in governance.”
The WPP–TWG, a coalition of experts, activists, and women leaders, has been at the forefront of the advocacy for legal and policy reforms that promote gender equity in Nigeria’s political system. Today’s action is a continuation of the Group’s sustained campaign to break the cycle of underrepresentation of women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
Despite the current recess of the National Assembly, Ifendu said the WPP–TWG is determined to keep the momentum alive. “Nigerian women will not wait for perfect timing. This is the right time to act. We are committed to ensuring that the Reserved Seats Bill remains a priority when the legislature resumes.”
Read Also: Advocates Applaud NASS Support for Reserved Seats for Women Bill
She also extended appreciation to the media for its ongoing support. “The media has been a strong ally in amplifying our voices. At this critical juncture, we call on journalists and news organisations to stand with us once again. We need national awareness, public dialogue, and political will to pass this bill.”
The Special Seats Bill proposes an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to reserve seats specifically for women in federal and state legislatures.
The WPP–TWG argues that without such affirmative action, the structural barriers to women’s political participation will persist, and Nigeria will continue to lag behind global and regional benchmarks for gender inclusion.
Data from the 2023 general elections showed that women occupied less than 5% of elective positions in Nigeria, one of the lowest rates in Africa.
The WPP–TWG insists that constitutional reform is essential to reverse this trend and foster a more inclusive democracy.
“The memorandum we are submitting is a roadmap for change,” said Ifendu. “We are not asking for handouts. We are demanding representation. This Bill is a step towards justice, fairness, and sustainable development.”