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By Gloria Ikibah

The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, and wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, have challenged the 10th National Assembly to ensure the passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking Special Reserved Seats for Women, warning that history would judge the legislature by its handling of the landmark proposal.

Speaking on Wednesday during the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, both speakers described the bill as one of the most consequential democratic reforms currently before Parliament, insisting that its passage would redefine women’s political participation and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

The appeal was made during the National Dialogue on the Electoral College Model for the Special Seats Bill, where lawmakers, former public office holders, civil society organisations and development partners gathered to discuss pathways to improving women’s representation in governance.

Nwankwo acknowledged what he described as the impressive legislative output of the 10th National Assembly over the past three years but argued that none of its achievements will surpass the significance of the proposed constitutional amendment.

According to him, the legislation presents a rare opportunity to correct the longstanding exclusion of women from elective positions.

Addressing the Speaker through the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and Hajiya Fatima Abbas, he urged lawmakers in both chambers to rally behind the bill.

“This is the most important bill before this National Assembly. It is not the budget bill or the tax reform bill. The Special Seats for Women Bill is the greatest legacy this National Assembly can leave behind. If this bill does not pass, the legacy of the 10th National Assembly will be seriously questioned,” he said.

Nwankwo also applauded local and international partners, including the European Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), for supporting advocacy aimed at increasing women’s political participation.

He said passing the bill would underscore Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive democracy while bringing the country closer to global standards on gender representation.

In her remarks, Hajiya Fatima Abbas commended the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for promoting openness, legislative reforms and greater public participation through the National Assembly Open Week.

She described the initiative as a demonstration of Parliament’s commitment to transparency and democratic accountability.

“This Open Week reflects our shared belief that democracy thrives when citizens are informed, engaged and able to participate meaningfully in governance. By opening the legislature to dialogue and public engagement, the House of Representatives continues to strengthen public trust and deepen Nigeria’s democratic culture,” she said.

She said the proposed constitutional amendment was both timely and necessary, noting that it seeks to address the persistent underrepresentation of women and other marginalised groups in Nigeria’s political institutions.

“The Special Seats Bill seeks to address the persistent underrepresentation of women and other marginalised groups in elective offices, ensuring that our democratic institutions better reflect the diversity of the Nigerian people. A stronger democracy is one in which every voice has a meaningful opportunity to be heard”, she added.

She called on lawmakers, civil society groups, development partners and other stakeholders to sustain advocacy until the bill becomes law.

Hajiya Abbas also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for advancing institutional reforms and inclusive governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda, while commending First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for championing women’s empowerment through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

She further acknowledged the advocacy efforts of the House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA), which she chairs, saying the association had continued to campaign nationwide for increased female representation in governance.

Women leaders push for urgent reforms
Earlier, prominent women leaders, legislators, former public office holders and civil society organisations renewed calls for stronger female representation during the dialogue, describing Nigeria’s current figures as unacceptable.

Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, lamented that women currently occupy only about four per cent of seats in the National Assembly — the lowest representation rate on the African continent.

She said the outcome of the recent party primaries further exposed the structural barriers confronting women seeking elective office.

“Women in Nigeria have been sidelined for far too long. The Reserved Seats for Women Bill deserves urgent attention. Despite the fact that many of the recent primaries were largely predetermined, women were still not adequately accommodated,” Ogbara said.

Sh expressed confidence that the repeated commitments made by the leadership of the National Assembly towards gender inclusion would translate into concrete legislative action.

She explained that the Special Seats Bill would create additional opportunities for women to participate in governance and urged stakeholders to consider the Electoral College Model as one of the practical mechanisms for implementing the reform.

She also commended the House leadership for consistently supporting initiatives aimed at expanding women’s participation in politics.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Patricia Etteh, also threw her weight behind the proposal, arguing that democracies across the world continue to evolve through reforms that improve representation.

She endorsed the Electoral College Model and called for sustained civic education, stronger political party commitment and wider public support to boost women’s participation in politics.

Representing Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere reaffirmed the leadership’s commitment to ensuring the Special Seats Bill is passed.

Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson, assured participants that lawmakers would continue to build bipartisan support for the legislation.

The event also featured goodwill messages from representatives of women’s organisations, development partners, as well as the Deputy Governors of Rivers and Kaduna States, all of whom pledged continued support for reforms aimed at making Nigeria’s democracy more inclusive.