A coalition of civil society organisations has accused political parties in Nigeria of failing to honour commitments to women’s inclusion, citing early outcomes from party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The concerns were raised at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, where women’s rights advocates said the process so far shows a widening gap between political promises and actual representation.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Toun Okewale Sonaiya said decisions taken in the coming weeks would determine whether the elections reflect progress or repeat past patterns of exclusion. “Political will is measured by who appears on the ballot,” she said.
She referenced earlier assurances by Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to improve women’s participation, noting that expectations had been high for a more inclusive 2027 election cycle.
However, early results from the All Progressives Congress primaries suggest otherwise, with only a few states — including Katsina, Edo, Imo, Ogun, Abia and Benue — producing successful female candidates, while others were excluded through screening processes, disqualifications and internal party pressure.
Also speaking, Ebere Ifendu and Irene Awunah Ikyegh cited cases of disqualification and pressure on female aspirants to step down, urging political parties yet to conduct primaries to ensure transparency and support for qualified women, warning that without action, inclusion may remain “only a talking point”.
