Concerns are mounting over the representation of women in Nigeria’s ongoing party primaries ahead of the 2027 general election, with civil society groups saying female aspirants are being edged out despite repeated promises of greater inclusion.
Women’s rights organisations say the pattern emerging from the primaries includes disqualifications, withdrawals under pressure and consensus arrangements that favour male candidates.
The concerns were raised on Monday in Abuja at a news conference themed “Broken Promises, Missing Women: Audit of the Primaries So Far.”
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Toun Okewale of the Voices of Women Empowerment Foundation said the current electoral cycle would test political parties’ commitment to gender inclusion.
She pointed to earlier commitments by President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to expand women’s participation in governance at all levels.
However, she said early outcomes from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries suggest limited progress.
Okewale said only a few states, including Katsina, Edo, Imo, Ogun, Abia and Benue, returned successful female candidates.
“These developments are inconsistent with the promises made to Nigerians on inclusion and equal political participation,” she said.
She alleged that several women were either disqualified or pressured to withdraw from contests in favour of consensus candidates.
Okewale also called for stronger media coverage of female candidates, urging journalists to provide fair and balanced reporting.
President of the Women in Politics Forum, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, said the primaries had been shaped by “targeted screening decisions and intense internal pressure” on women aspirants.
She cited the disqualification of Rivers West Senator and former Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, by the APC Senatorial Screening Committee in Rivers State.
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Banigo is one of only four serving female senators in the 10th National Assembly.
Ifendu also referenced the screening out of Engineer Noimot Salako in Ogun State, and reports that women in several states were pressured to step down for consensus candidates.
In Imo State, she said the APC’s use of the Option A4 open-ballot system resulted in significant upsets, including losses for senior lawmakers such as Miriam Onuoha, Chair of the House Committee on TETFUND.
“As the APC finalises its results, other parties still have an opportunity to ensure more inclusive primaries,” Ifendu said.
She urged parties yet to conduct primaries, including the Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Action Alliance (AA), to ensure transparent and fair selection processes.
“Political will is measured by who finally appears on the ballot,” she said.
President of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, said stronger female participation would improve democratic legitimacy and governance outcomes.
She noted that women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population but remain underrepresented in elective politics.
“Women are 49.7 per cent of Nigeria’s population but remain under-mobilised politically,” she said.
Awunah-Ikyegh argued that inclusive parties tend to enjoy greater public trust and wider voter engagement.
“Parties that give women a real chance do not weaken themselves politically; they strengthen their electoral advantage,” she said.
The coalition urged political parties to publish clear selection criteria, improve transparency in candidate selection, and ensure qualified women are not excluded through internal arrangements.
It warns that without corrective action, promises of inclusion risk remaining unfulfilled ahead of the 2027 elections.
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