Former Candidate Adesanya-Davies Urges Tinubu on Women's Bill

Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a former presidential candidate, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant immediate assent to the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. This bill proposes the creation of 74 additional seats for women in the National Assembly and 108 in state assemblies, aiming to enhance women's participation in governance before the 2027 general elections.

Adesanya-Davies expressed concern over the declining representation of women in elective offices, despite the 35 percent affirmative action target. She urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to enforce Section 84 of the Electoral Act, which mandates sanctions for parties failing to meet the representation target for women in their primaries.

Additionally, she called for political parties to reserve 35 percent of their candidacies for women and provide free nomination forms for female aspirants. Adesanya-Davies encouraged Nigerian women to become politically active and seek leadership roles, while also appealing to male allies and traditional leaders to support women's political ambitions.