Dozens of women converged at the entrance of Nigeria’s National Assembly on Monday, the 16th of February, 2026, calling on legislators to expedite action on the Women Reserved Seats Bill before preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The bill forms part of 44 constitutional amendment proposals currently lined up for final consideration by the National Assembly, after which they would require endorsement from state legislatures.
If approved, the legislation would amend the 1999 Constitution to introduce designated seats for women in both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. The initiative is structured as a temporary corrective mechanism aimed at tackling the long-standing underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s lawmaking bodies by establishing constituencies exclusively contested by female candidates.
Speaking during the rally, former Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, applauded lawmakers for moving the bill forward but cautioned against delays at this critical stage.
“A vote for a woman is a vote for life. Women are the hope of life. And I want to urge the members of the National Assembly, we are not protesting today, we are holding a rally.
“We believe in non-violence. We have organised ourselves. We have not besieged the gates of the National Assembly. We are not going to the Assembly unless they invite us.
“We are calling on the members of the National Assembly to come here and address us. We are waiting for them patiently. We are quite orderly. We don’t fight to go into that house because they have allowed us before. We have been there on the campaign for special seats bill,” she said.
Obi emphasised that passing the bill without delay would give political parties and aspiring female candidates sufficient time to strategise ahead of the 2027 polls.
Rahila Dauda, representing the International Federation of Women Lawyers, also addressed the gathering, describing the current proportion of women in Nigeria’s legislature as deeply troubling.
“We are in total support of the bill, the special seats, and we urge the National Assembly to join with us by passing this bill. It is wrong in our view because it is a shame that in a country like Nigeria, where more than half of the population are women, unfortunately only about 5 or 4 are in the National Assembly and the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“The time is now. The National Assembly should join us and make history to pass this bill. Nigerian women want this bill now,” she said.
Another campaigner insisted that the structure of the proposed seats must align with the Disability Act by ensuring inclusion for women and girls living with disabilities.
“We are here to ask for our rights. Rights for inclusion. Rights for representation, rights for participation in governance. In the Disability Act, five per cent is enshrined for every person with disabilities, including women and girls with disabilities.
“We want five per cent reservation of special seats for women with disabilities and girls. It is time that we move from exclusion to inclusion. We are saying, include us now,” she added.
READ ALSO: Nwankwo Warns Senate Bill Could Undermine Elections Credibility
Nigeria continues to rank among African countries with the lowest female representation in parliament. Since the restoration of democratic governance in 1999, women’s participation in elective positions has remained minimal despite consistent pledges to advance gender equity.
Within the current 10th National Assembly, women occupy only a small share of seats in both chambers. The 2023 general elections further reduced the number of female lawmakers at the federal level, triggering criticism from civil society organisations and international observers.
Efforts to secure broader political space for women through constitutional amendments have faltered in the past. Notably, in 2022, several gender-focused bills were rejected during the constitutional review process, prompting nationwide demonstrations under the banner “Women Occupy National Assembly.”
Advocates of reserved legislative seats argue that the approach mirrors successful quota systems implemented in countries like Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, where similar frameworks have significantly boosted women’s presence in parliament. They maintain that without deliberate structural reforms, financial, political, and socio-cultural obstacles will continue to sideline women from elective office. Critics, however, question whether such reserved seats align with the principle of equal political competition.
For the women who assembled peacefully at the gates of the National Assembly, the appeal was clear to ensure the bill is passed in time to take effect before the 2027 elections.
Whether lawmakers will act swiftly enough remains uncertain.