Hundreds of women took to the streets of Abuja on Monday to demand the passage of the “Special Seats Bill,” a proposal that seeks to secure women-only seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly. The legislation, if passed, would create one reserved seat for women in both the Senate and the House of Representatives across each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Passing it, however, would require a constitutional amendment.
Women’s groups from across the country organized a colorful caravan of buses, vans, and trucks blasting Afrobeats music as they made their way through the capital. Dorothy Njemanze, one of the protest organizers, said she counted more than 1,000 demonstrators. “We want the legislature to work for women,” she declared during the march.
Why are Nigerian women demanding reserved seats?
Nigeria has one of the lowest levels of female representation in Africa, with just four women senators out of 109 and only 16 women in the 360-member House of Representatives, according to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC). In contrast, countries like Rwanda and Senegal have significantly increased women’s participation in politics by adopting quota systems.
Advocates argue that financial barriers, entrenched gender roles, and male-dominated political structures have sidelined women for decades. By guaranteeing seats, supporters believe more attention will be given to issues such as women’s health, safety, and economic inclusion. “I want that seat, because tomorrow, I may be the one contesting for it,” said Onu Ihunania, a 50-year-old civil servant who joined the protest.
Can the Special Seats Bill succeed?
President Bola Tinubu’s minister for women’s affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has expressed support for the legislation. Yet, the PLAC warns that constitutional amendments are “no walk in the park,” requiring approval from two-thirds of the National Assembly and 24 state legislatures.
Previous efforts to reserve seats for women have failed, but protesters remain hopeful. For many, the urgency of change is clear. Nyiyam Ikyereve, who traveled from Benue state to attend, said a stronger female presence in parliament could transform priorities: “A National Assembly with more women might better focus on women’s health and economic inclusion.”
The call for equal representation has been amplified by recent controversies, including the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she raised complaints about sexual harassment in the chamber. While officials cited other reasons for her suspension, the incident highlighted the challenges women continue to face in Nigeria’s political space.
By Risper Akinyi