2027 Election: Approve Reserved Seats For Women – Coalition Urges NASS

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign Coalition has urged the National Assembly to fast-track legislation creating reserved seats for women, following the publication of the 2027 general election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In a statement issued in Abuja, by the Head of Communications for the coalition, Hammed Adejare, the group said the release of the electoral calendar provides clarity for political parties and candidates but also underscores the limited time available to pass Senate Bill 550 and House Bill 1349 before preparations for the next general elections intensify.

The coalition called on lawmakers to prioritise and accelerate consideration of the two bills, which seek to establish 182 reserved seats for women across the Senate, the House of Representatives and the 36 state houses of assembly.

Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female parliamentary representation globally, with women holding less than five percent of seats in the National Assembly, according to the coalition.

The proposed constitutional amendment would introduce the reserved seats for an initial period of 16 years as a corrective mechanism aimed at addressing what the group described as structural barriers limiting women’s political participation.

“The legislative window to conclude consideration of these bills is rapidly narrowing,” the statement said, warning that Nigeria risks approaching the 2027 elections without addressing long-standing gender imbalances in its political system.

The coalition urged the 10th National Assembly to act “with urgency and responsibility,” arguing that reform is necessary to strengthen representative governance and public confidence in democratic institutions.

PR Oduyemi Odumade