By Nkechi Eze
More than 750 Nigerian women drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are set to converge in Abuja on Monday, September 22, 2025, to submit a memorandum in support of the passage of the Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill.
According to the Chair of the Women’s Political Participation–Technical Working Group (WPP–TWG), Ebere Ifendu, the women will gather at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in the morning before embarking on a peaceful walk to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where the leadership of the National Assembly is expected to receive their memorandum during a stakeholder meeting.
Ifendu explained that although the National Assembly is currently on recess, Nigerian women remain resolute in their demand for greater political inclusion. She stressed that the demonstration represents a unified national action by women determined to secure their rightful place in governance.
“The Reserved Seats Bill is not just about numbers, it is about securing women’s rightful place in governance and ensuring that the voices of Nigerian women are heard where decisions that affect their lives are made,” Ifendu said.
She also called on the media to sustain their support, noting that their role had been pivotal in amplifying women’s voices in the push for reform. “An ally we’ve had so far in this journey in getting the Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill is the media. Now at this critical moment, we need the media to forge ahead as a true ally to raise critical awareness on the bill for the legislators to pass it,” she added.
The Special Seats Reserved for Women Bill seeks an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide dedicated seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Advocates say the reform is designed to strengthen inclusive governance and guarantee greater representation of women in decision-making processes, in line with global best practices on gender equity in politics.
