Stakeholders have called for swift reforms to boost women’s participation in Nigeria’s politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

At a stakeholders’ forum, Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, described the current figures as alarming, noting that only four of 109 senators are women, while nearly 15 states have no female lawmakers.

He urged the National Assembly to fast-track the Special Seats Bill as part of constitutional amendments to address the imbalance.

Also, the Chair of NBA-SPIDEL, Uju Agomoh, said the underrepresentation of women weakens democracy and governance. She called for urgent legal and institutional reforms to remove barriers limiting women’s political participation.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, blamed entrenched party structures for shutting women out of decision-making, noting that candidacies are often decided before elections. She stressed the need for coordinated advocacy to drive real change.

Also, the First Lady of Edo State, Edesili Okpebholo, said democracy cannot thrive without inclusive representation. She called for stronger support systems for women and urged men to back gender equality efforts.

Stakeholders at the forum agreed on the need for urgent legislative action, stronger political will, and sustained collaboration to ensure more women are elected into office by 2027.