Adesanya-Davies Urges Tinubu to Sign Women Bill

Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a former presidential candidate, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant immediate presidential assent to the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. This Bill seeks to create 74 additional seats for women in the National Assembly and 108 in State Assemblies, aiming to enhance women's representation in the 2027 general elections.

Adesanya-Davies lamented the decline in women's participation in elective offices despite the 35 percent Affirmative Act. She urged the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce Section 84 of the Electoral Act, proposing sanctions for parties that fail to meet the 35% women representation in their primaries.

Additionally, she called for political parties to reserve 35% of candidacy for women and provide free nomination forms. Adesanya-Davies encouraged Nigerian women to actively participate in politics and urged male allies, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to support women candidates.

She also called on the media to provide equal coverage for female candidates.