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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has shed light on a key challenge facing female politicians in Nigeria: a tendency for women to cast their votes for male candidates. This insight was shared during a meeting with a delegation from the European Union Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Mr. David McAllister, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Akpabio remarked, “Women often vote for male candidates, making it difficult for female candidates to win elections.” His statement highlights a significant barrier to increasing female representation in Nigerian politics, despite women comprising nearly half of the country’s electorate.
Acknowledging this paradox, Akpabio expressed his concerns over the inadequate representation of women in political roles, an issue that persists even as women hold a substantial portion of the voting power. His comments underscore the need for a shift in voting patterns to enable more women to succeed in political contests.
Low Female Representation in Politics
According to him, “Women often vote for male candidates, making it difficult for female candidates to win elections.”
He expressed concern over the poor representation of women in Nigerian politics despite women making up nearly half of the nation’s voting population.
Currently, only four of the 109 senators and 17 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives are women — a situation that has barely improved in two decades.
Plans to Encourage Women’s Political Growth
Akpabio said the National Assembly is committed to changing this pattern by creating a supportive environment for women to thrive politically.
He added that lawmakers are considering “innovative measures and possible constitutional amendments” to promote gender inclusion in governance.
He also assured that the legislature would collaborate with advocacy groups, such as the Black Women’s Forum and other stakeholders, to encourage more women to contest elections and achieve fair representation in leadership.
