Coalition urges swift passage of women’s reserved seats bill
The Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition has called for urgent legislative action following the release of the timetable for the 2027 General Elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement in Abuja on Sunday, the coalition said the announcement of the electoral calendar has brought clarity to political parties, candidates, institutions and citizens, but also highlighted the limited time left for critical constitutional reforms ahead of the polls.
The group stressed that the legislative window to conclude consideration of House Bill 1349 and Senate Bill 550, which seek to amend the Constitution to create 182 reserved seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly is rapidly closing.
According to the coalition, Nigeria currently records one of the lowest levels of female parliamentary representation globally, with women occupying less than five per cent of seats in the National Assembly.
It noted that the imbalance goes beyond statistics, describing it as a reflection of entrenched structural barriers that weaken representative governance and diminish public confidence in democratic institutions.
The coalition explained that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill is designed as a time-bound corrective measure to run for an initial period of 16 years, aimed at accelerating progress toward balanced political representation.
It maintained that the proposal preserves the integrity and competitiveness of Nigeria’s electoral system while aligning with constitutional provisions and democratic best practices.
The group added that women across the 36 states are prepared to contest, lead and serve, but questioned whether the 469 members of the 10th National Assembly would act with the urgency required to dismantle systemic barriers limiting women’s participation.
The coalition therefore urged the leadership of the National Assembly to prioritise and fast-track the passage of SB 550 and HB 1349 within the remaining legislative timeframe.
“The moment for reform is now. The electoral clock is ticking,” the statement, signed by the coalition’s Communications Lead, Hammed Adejare, added.
