Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that one key reason many female politicians find it difficult to win elections in Nigeria is because women themselves often vote for male candidates.
Akpabio made the comment on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the European Union Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Mr David McAllister, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to him, “Women often vote for male candidates, making it difficult for female candidates to win elections.”
He expressed concern over the poor representation of women in Nigerian politics despite women making up nearly half of the nation’s voting population.
Currently, only four of the 109 senators and 17 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives are women — a situation that has barely improved in two decades.
Plans to Encourage Women’s Political Growth
Akpabio said the National Assembly is committed to changing this pattern by creating a supportive environment for women to thrive politically.
He added that lawmakers are considering “innovative measures and possible constitutional amendments” to promote gender inclusion in governance.
He also assured that the legislature would collaborate with advocacy groups, such as the Black Women’s Forum and other stakeholders, to encourage more women to contest elections and achieve fair representation in leadership.
