Abuja, Nigeria | September 18, 2025
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed support for constitutional and electoral reforms aimed at creating greater legislative representation for women at both national and state levels.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu stated that affirmative action backed by amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act offers the most sustainable way to guarantee gender balance in elective offices. He noted that the Commission has revised its gender policy, established a Department of Gender and Inclusivity, and continues to engage lawmakers on legal frameworks that would ensure women’s participation in politics.
The move aligns with an ongoing constitutional amendment bill that seeks to reserve additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. The proposal, which has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, recommends 74 reserved seats for women at the federal level and 108 across state legislatures.
Yakubu emphasised that such reforms would not only strengthen democratic representation but also enhance inclusivity in Nigeria’s political system.
