By Sarah Sam Adda
Hundreds of women marched in Abuja on Monday, demanding the passage of a bill that would create women-only seats in Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives.
The proposed Special Seats Bill seeks to add one reserved seat for women in both chambers from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
If approved, it would require a constitutional amendment, an uphill task that needs two-thirds support in the National Assembly and approval from at least 24 state legislatures.
Nigeria currently has no quota system for female lawmakers. Of 109 senators, only four are women, while just 16 out of 360 House members are women, according to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).
Supporters say the bill would help dismantle barriers such as financial obstacles, cultural norms, and male-dominated political networks that limit women’s participation.
“We want the legislature to work for women,” said organiser Dorothy Njemanze, who estimated more than 1,000 demonstrators.
The protest featured a convoy of buses and trucks blasting Afrobeats before culminating in the delivery of signatures to a House committee on constitutional reform. Some women also linked the campaign to personal ambitions.
“I want that seat, because tomorrow I may be the one contesting for it,” said Onu Ihunania, a 50-year-old civil servant.
Minister of Women’s Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has thrown her weight behind the proposal. But PLAC cautioned that passing constitutional amendments is “no walk in the park,” noting that earlier attempts to create reserved seats for women failed.
Advocates insist stronger female representation would drive attention to issues like women’s health and economic inclusion.
“A National Assembly with more women might better focus on these challenges,” said Nyiyam Ikyereve, who travelled from Benue State for the rally.
The debate comes amid heightened gender tensions in parliament. Earlier this year, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after raising concerns about sexual harassment, though Senate leaders attributed her suspension to a dispute over seating arrangements.
