Role Of Women In Nigeria Politics In 2027: No Nation Can Develop Without Women – From Voters To Leaders
By Amb. Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies
Former Presidential Candidate (2019), Educationist & Gender Advocate
Date: 2nd November 2026
INTRODUCTION:
Abuja, Nigeria – Ahead of 2027 General Elections, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares the timetable for the 2027 General Elections, and as political parties begin their underground alignments, Nigeria stands at a crossroads.
We must decide: Will 2027 be business as usual – where women clap, sing, mobilize and vote, while men collect the tickets and the offices? Or will 2027 be the turning point where Nigeria finally unlocks the political power of its women?
I, Amb. Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies clearly states: Nigeria cannot achieve its full potential in 2027 without women in the driving seat of politics.
WHERE WE ARE THE UNACCEPTABLE STATISTICS:
Nigerian women are politically powerful on paper, powerless in reality.
- Population and Voting Strength: Women constitute 49.4% of Nigeria’s population (NBS 2023) and about 47.5% of the 93.4 million registered voters for the 2023 elections (INEC). They turn out more faithfully to vote than men.
- Elective Representation – A Global Embarrassment:
- Senate: 4 out of 109 Senators are women (3.7%) in the 10th Assembly
- House of Representatives: 17 out of 360 (4.7%)
- State Governors: 0 out of 36 women in 2023-2027
- State Houses of Assembly: Less than 5% are women
- Local Government Chairpersons: Less than 4%
Nigeria ranks 181 out of 193 countries in women’s representation in parliament, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
- History of Decline: We have gone backwards. In 2011, we had 32 women in House of Reps (8.9%). In 2015, 22 (6.1%). In 2019, 11 (3%). In 2023, we only marginally improved to 17. This is not progress; it is retrogression.
- The 35% Affirmative Action – 20 Years of Promise Unkept: Nigeria’s National Gender Policy (2006) promises 35% representation for women. The National Gender Policy was revised in 2021. Yet, we have never hit 10%. Compare with our African sisters: Rwanda 61.3%, South Africa 46%, Senegal 44%, Mozambique 42%.
WHY WOMEN ARE MISSING – THE SEVEN BARRIERS:
Why are Nigerian women missing in 2027 politics?
a) The Money Barrier: A Governorship nomination form costs N30m – N50m in major parties. Presidential form costs N100m. How many Nigerian women can afford it? Politics is monetized and women are economically disadvantaged.
b) The Party Structure Barrier: Party primaries are controlled by male delegates, male party chairmen, male godfathers. The internal democracy is not gender sensitive.
c) The Violence Barrier: Politics in Nigeria is often violent. Threats, thuggery, assassination, kidnapping, cyber-harassment, and character assassination targeting women’s marital status, age and morality.
d) The Cultural and Religious Barrier: Stereotypes that “a woman’s place is in the kitchen,” “women cannot lead men,” and misinterpretation of religion to justify exclusion.
e) The Time and Family Burden: Women carry the triple burden of home, work and community, leaving little time for late-night political meetings.
f) The Media Invisibility Barrier: Female candidates receive less than 5% of political news coverage, and when covered, it is about their dress, marriage, not their manifesto.
g) The Legal Gap: The Electoral Act 2022 asks parties to ensure women and youth inclusion but does not mandate it with sanctions. Without legal teeth, inclusion remains charity.
WHY NIGERIA NEEDS WOMEN IN 2027 – THE EVIDENCE:
This is not about favour. It is about national interest.
1. Better Governance: Research by UN Women shows that where women are 30% or more in parliament, child mortality reduces, educational investment increases, and anti-corruption laws are stronger.
2. Peace and Security: Women are natural peace-builders. With insecurity ravaging the North East, North West and South East, we need women’s perspective in security architecture.
3. Economic Recovery: Nigeria needs all its talent. Excluding 50% of its talent pool in politics is like flying with one wing. The World Bank says closing gender gaps could increase Nigeria’s GDP by 22%.
4. Democratic Legitimacy: A democracy where half the population is excluded is half a democracy.
OUR BLUEPRINT FOR 2027 – WHAT MUST BE DONE:
To make the role of women central in 2027, we make these demands:
1. To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government:
Grant immediate Presidential assent to the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349) which seeks to create 74 additional seats for women in National Assembly and 108 in State Assemblies. This is a temporary special measure allowed under CEDAW.
2. To INEC:
Enforce Section 84 of the Electoral Act. Parties that do not meet 35% women in their primaries should face sanctions. Make reporting of gender-disaggregated data compulsory.
3. To Political Parties (APC, PDP, LP, NNPP, ADC, SDP etc):
- Reserve 35% of candidacy for women with free and automatic nomination forms for women as was promised.
- Create Women Wings with real funding and decision-making power, not just mobilization for rallies.
- Adopt direct primaries that are more women-friendly.
4. To Nigerian Women:
Wake up! 2027 is our year.
- Contest for something. From Ward Councillor to President.
- If you cannot contest, sponsor a woman.
- If you cannot sponsor, campaign for a woman.
- Form Women-to-Women support cooperatives to raise campaign funds. Aso-ebi money can become campaign money.
- Stop pulling down fellow women (the pull-her-down syndrome).
5. To Male Allies, Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders:
Support your wives, daughters and sisters to contest. A woman leader is not a threat to culture; she is an asset to development.
6. To the Media:
Give female candidates equal airtime. Interview them on security, economy, not just “how do you balance home and politics?”
CONCLUSION:
In 2027, the Nigerian woman must graduate from being a political tool to being a political leader.
We have voted. We have mobilized. We have been faithful. Now, we must lead.
From Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti who led the Abeokuta women’s revolt, to Margaret Ekpo, to Gambo Sawaba, to the present – Nigerian women have always fought for Nigeria. It is time for Nigeria to fight for women.
Let it be recorded that in 2027, Nigeria did not just conduct an election, but birthed a new inclusive democracy.
Nigeria Needs Women. 2027 Needs Women. Bring Women In.
Signed:
Amb. Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies
_Former Presidential Candidate Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA, 2019), Politician,
Educationist, Theologian & Advocate for Gender Equity
Founder, Women in Politics Initiative (WIPI)
