In a concerted efforts to increase female representation in Nigeria’s political landscape, South-South Coordinator of the Reserved Seats for Women Campaign, Ebimoboere Alaibe Elezieanya called on lawmakers and stakeholders to ensure the passage of House Bill a constitutional amendment proposing additional legislative seats exclusively for women.
She made this call while speaking with our correspondent on the sidelines of a high-level press conference on the national campaign for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, held in Abuja on Monday.
Elezieanya explained that the bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to reserve 37 seats in the House of Representatives (one per state and the FCT), 37 in the Senate, and three additional seats per State House of Assembly for women.
“This is not a gift; it’s a corrective bill. It seeks to address the long-standing injustice of excluding nearly half of Nigeria’s population from decision-making,” she stated.
She explained that the bill is a critical response to gender imbalance in governance and a step toward strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“Women make up almost 50% of Nigeria’s population, yet this is not reflected in our parliament. This bill is about legitimacy, improved lawmaking, and national development, the impact of this bill will be major, the passage of this bill will ensure that women in the rural area are no longer marginalized, the political parties will be carried along because women’s voices will be heard at all levels, what we should be asking ourselves is that what will be the cost of not implementing this bill, it will mean that again in the next election circle, the Nigerian woman will not be taken into account, it means that again in trying to restructure our constitutional amendment we have not taken women into account, so the cost of not implementing this bill is much more than implementing it.” she said.
Reflecting on recent zonal public hearings, Elezieanya described the South-South women’s turnout as “enthusiastic and united.” She noted that commissioners, councillors, and civil society groups across Bayelsa, Delta, and Cross River States strongly backed the bill.
“From the testimonies and position papers, it’s clear, Nigerian women are ready to lead and be represented,” she said.
Elezieanya urged lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly to make history by passing the bill, which has previously failed in the 8th and 9th Assemblies.
“We are pleading with our fathers and uncles in parliament to hear the cry of Nigerian women. This is a defining moment. Nigeria must get it right,” she emphasized.
While debunking the stereotype that women do not support one another, she insisted that the campaign has unified all major women’s groups across the country adding that the position will be contested thereby producing the best and most qualified candidates after every election circle.
“The world is watching Nigeria. This bill is our opportunity to lead Africa in gender-responsive governance,” she said.
