Women's Advocacy Group Urges Parties to Balance Governorship Tickets

Toun Sonaiya, co-founder of Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, urges Nigerian governors and party chairmen to prioritize women's representation in 2027 party primaries. While APC has commenced early primaries, other parties including PDP, Labour Party, and 18 others must address women's underrepresentation in their processes. The advocacy group calls for every male governorship candidate to run with a female deputy—a strategic move requiring no constitutional amendments that would result in 36 female deputy governors by 2028. Women currently represent 49.7% of Nigeria's population, yet early reports from APC primaries suggest only a handful of states produced female House of Representatives candidates. Cases of Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers) and Noimot Salako-Oyedele (Ogun) highlight a troubling pattern where women are encouraged to participate but excluded at critical selection points. The group also demands transparent review mechanisms for women disqualified under questionable circumstances, arguing that inclusive tickets strengthen public trust and enhance party credibility. What structural changes will your party implement to ensure women are not just participants but actual winners in 2027?

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/gender/883145-expanding-womens-representation-ahead-of-2027.html