Women Minister Urges Political Unity for 2027 Elections

On Thursday in Abuja, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, called for Nigerian women to unite and organize politically to enhance their representation in the upcoming 2027 general elections. Speaking at the third edition of the Women Candidates’ Summit 2026, organized by the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, she emphasized that women occupy less than four percent of elective positions in Nigeria, despite making up nearly half of registered voters.

Currently, women hold only four Senate seats and 17 seats in the House of Representatives, with 15 State Assemblies lacking female members. Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced initiatives to reactivate six Women’s Political Empowerment Centres into year-round political academies and strengthen mentoring programs through the National Resource Centres for Women in Politics.

She urged women to engage in strategic political negotiations and highlighted the Ministry’s “Power of 10 Million Women Movement” aimed at mobilizing women across Nigeria's local government areas to influence election outcomes.