Women Voters Push for Special Seats Bill in Nigeria

Women voters across Nigeria are actively campaigning for a special seats bill currently under consideration in the National Assembly as part of ongoing amendments to the 1999 Constitution. This proposed legislation aims to create additional legislative seats exclusively for women, which includes 12 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives.

The bill seeks to increase the number of Senate members from 109 to 121 and the House of Representatives from 360 to 397. Advocacy efforts were highlighted during a zonal caucus meeting organized by the League of Women Voters Nigeria (NILOWV), where Hon.

Iduma Igariwei expressed strong support for the bill. John Ebikesey, Executive Director of the African Parliamentary Resource Centre, explained that the proposed special seats would emerge from an electoral college rather than general elections.

This initiative aims to enhance women's participation in governance and strengthen democratic representation in Nigeria.