and capable women leaders who will shape Nigeria’s future.”
She also called for legal safeguards for the proposed Electoral College under the Women’s Special Seats Bill to prevent political manipulation and strengthen accountability in the process.
The minister said appropriate provisions in the Electoral Act would ensure transparency, protect the integrity of the system and strengthen public confidence in the proposed mechanism.
“While the mechanism has changed, the mission remains uncompromised. The proposed Women’s Special Seats Bill provides Nigeria with a practical and historic opportunity to end the systemic exclusion of women from legislative decision-making.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the bill proposed 12 additional Senate seats, 37 House of Representatives seats and 108 State Houses of Assembly seats under a 16-year sunset clause.
She noted that sustained engagement with political leaders had increased the emergence of female candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, reflecting growing support for inclusion.
The minister urged stakeholders to support constitutional reforms that would deepen women’s inclusion in governance and further strengthen democratic institutions across the country.
“Women’s political empowerment transcends partisan politics. It is a national development imperative that demands collective commitment from government, political parties, civil society and every Nigerian,” she said.(NAN)
