As the National Assembly prepares to vote on a bill seeking to create special seats for women in national and state assemblies, 13 state houses of assembly currently have no female legislators.

Out of the 990 state assembly seats across the 36 states of the federation, only 54 women, representing just 5.5 per cent, were elected in 23 states during the 2023 elections.

Women’s representation in the 10th National Assembly is also dismal. Only four women occupy seats in the 109-member Senate, while 16 out of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives are held by women.

Cumulatively, out of the 469 seats in the National Assembly, women hold just 20, an insignificant 4.3 per cent, while men occupy the remaining 449 seats, representing 95.7 per cent.

The persistent underrepresentation of women in successive elections has raised serious concerns among advocacy groups, international organisations, and other stakeholders. Many argue that the gender imbalance can only be corrected through deliberate legislative action mandating a percentage of seats to be reserved for women in the spirit of fairness and inclusion.

This concern led to the push for a law seeking to create special seats exclusively for women in both national and state assemblies.

The special seats bill

The Special Seats Bill, which passed second reading on July 9, 2024, proposes the creation of 182 additional seats reserved exclusively for women in the federal and state legislatures. It is among the 86 constitutional amendment bills the National Assembly is expected to vote on soon.

Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and 12 others, the bill seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, and 91 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to create one special seat for women in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the state level, it proposes to amend Section 91 to provide three special seats per state house of assembly, one for each senatorial district.

If passed, the bill would add 37 new female senators, 37 female representatives, and 108 female state legislators, producing a total of 182 additional women lawmakers every election cycle.

The proposed seats would exist alongside existing constituency seats for a limited number of election cycles, after which they would be reviewed.

The proposed legislation has already scaled second reading at the House of Representatives and will require approval by two-thirds of House members and the Senate as well as the endorsement by at least 24 state assemblies before it can be transmitted for presidential assent.

According to its proponents, the measure is designed to strengthen women’s political inclusion and boost their participation in governance and decision-making.

The proposed legislation has garnered wide support from women’s groups, civil society organisations, international bodies, and lawmakers.

At a public hearing, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, women’s groups, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and other stakeholders all endorsed the bill, stressing that gender inclusion is vital to Nigeria’s democratic and developmental aspirations.

In his remarks, the Speaker described women’s representation in Nigeria’s parliament as “unacceptable,” urging colleagues to support the bill.

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said the proposal offers Nigeria an opportunity to “make history.”

“As international partners, the EU is following this process very closely, on inclusive governance, with these special seats bill, a Nigerian-made draft reform. It is especially important to strengthen democracy to the benefit of all, men and women alike, and to make history,” Mignot said.

Meanwhile, women’s groups have taken to the streets of Abuja in peaceful protests, demanding support for the legislation.

Across Africa, 41 out of 54 countries have adopted similar affirmative action measures to enhance gender inclusion in politics. Countries such as Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Tanzania have successfully implemented special seats or quota systems to boost female representation.

Governors push for passage of bill

Meanwhile, governors of the 36 states of the federation have resolved to push for the passage of Reserved Seats for Women Bill before the National Assembly.

The resolution was reached during their meeting in Abuja, which started on Thursday night and ended in the early hours of Friday.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who addressed newsmen at the end of the meeting, said the governors resolved to engage lawmakers from their states to support the bill’s passage.

Sanwo-Olu who read a communique signed by Kwara State governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said, “The Forum noted that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349) will be voted on between November 4–6, 2025.

“The Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create special constituencies exclusively contested by women in the National and State Assemblies as a temporary measure to enhance gender representation.

“Governors were urged to engage their senators, members of the House of Representatives, and state assemblies to support the bill’s passage and affirm Nigeria’s commitment to equity and inclusive governance.”

13 states without women lawmakers

Despite the growing advocacy for women’s inclusion, Weekend Trust findings show that 13 out of the 36 state assemblies currently have no female representation.

The affected states include Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Osun, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Currently, women occupy only 54 of the 990 state assembly seats nationwide, leaving men with 94.5 per cent of the total.

Gombe: A history interrupted

In Gombe State, the 24-member assembly has no female legislator. Since 1999, only two women have ever served in the House: Hajiya Zainab Alman, who represented Kaltungo East between 2003 and 2007, and Asmau Mohammed Iganus, who represented Shongom Constituency from 2019 to 2023.

It took 12 years after Alman’s exit for another woman, Iganus, to be elected. While Alman was denied a return ticket in 2007, Iganus lost her re-election bid in 2023 despite securing her party’s nomination.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Sadam Bello Saleh, described the special seats bill as “a thoughtful and positive development.”

“That is a very important and thoughtful bill,” he said. “Creating special seats for women is a positive step, especially in a state like Gombe. We have a history of women in the assembly who played important roles, but right now, we have none. That is a gap we must close.”

He added that under the leadership of Speaker Abubakar Luggerewo, the Gombe Assembly would support the bill when transmitted by the National Assembly.

Also speaking, Hon. Nasiru Abdulkarim, representing Dukku North, said creating special seats for women is a “good development,” provided they are reserved exclusively for female candidates.

He said, “We will do the needful whenever the bill is presented before us. It will ensure women’s voices are represented once again.”

Kebbi: Zero representation since 1999

In Kebbi State, no woman has ever served in the state assembly since the return of democracy in 1999. The 24-member assembly is made up entirely of men.

Dr Suleiman Abubakar Fana, who represents Dandi Local Government and chairs the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, said the bill is a welcome idea.

“Their coming will boost our legislative duties to the people of the state,” he said. “Women are agents of change and serious-minded individuals. It is a wake-up call for more women to get involved in politics.”

He added that women form the majority of voters in elections, and it was “time for them to offer themselves to be voted for.”

“Because women are more passionate, prudent, and committed to causes they believe in, if given the chance, they will deliver more dividends of democracy,” he said.

Borno: The lone trailblazer

In Borno State, only one woman, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, has ever served in the state assembly. She was first elected in 1997 and returned in 2003 before leaving to serve as a commissioner under then-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

Efforts to reach the current Speaker for comments on the bill were unsuccessful, but a lawmaker who preferred anonymity said the House would likely support it.

“We will stop at nothing to ensure that women get what they deserve, their rights and privileges, because they are the ones who take care of us and our families,” he said.

Comrade Bulama Abiso, Executive Director of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, said the participation of women in politics in Borno needs urgent improvement.

“Women constitute over 60 per cent of our population but have little or no representation. If they mobilise and vote as a bloc, they can break the jinx,” he said, noting that CSOs and the Nigerian Bar Association have already begun advocacy for the bill’s passage.

Bauchi: Three women in 26 years

The Bauchi State House of Assembly currently has no female legislator in the 10th Assembly.

Findings show that since 1999, only three women have been elected into the Bauchi State House of Assembly: Habiba Sabo Gabarin, who represented Darazo Constituency from 1999 to 2007; Rifkatu Samson Danna, who represented Bogoro Constituency from 2007 to 2015; and Maryam Bagel, who represented Dass Constituency from 2015 to 2019.

When contacted on the proposed creation of special seats for women, Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Y. Suleiman, welcomed the initiative by the National Assembly.

“Personally, I don’t have any problem with that because many people opposing the idea for special seats for women don’t know how it will be implemented. Some think it will affect the already existing seats being contested across the country,” he said.

“Personally, I welcome the idea and, Insha Allah, we can do whatever we can to ensure that the bill succeeds. I remember in the Fifth Alterations, an attempt was made but it was killed at the National Assembly. At that time, I was the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers; my colleagues and I agreed to support the bill to pass into law, but unfortunately, it was killed at the National Assembly.”

He described the proposed bill as a means of bringing more women into governance and politics.

“They are not given enough opportunities to partake in the governance of the country. We are waiting; if the National Assembly allows the bill to reach the state assemblies, I think it will go through,” he said.

“Insha Allah, we will support it because personally, I and members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly would vote for the bill. It will not affect anybody; it’s just to have one or two female legislators in the Assembly, which is welcome. Even the House Committee on Women Affairs can be chaired by a woman, unlike now when a male member is occupying the position. Generally, I support the idea for special seats for women in the assemblies and will do my best to ensure it is passed.”

On his part, the member representing Kirfi Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Umar Habibu, said he also supports the National Assembly’s move to create special seats for women in both state and national legislatures.

Habibu said the agitation for special seats for women was long overdue, considering the long-standing efforts of various women’s organisations across the country.

He explained that lawmakers initially misunderstood the bill to mean it would take away seats from men, but it is now clear that it seeks to create additional seats for women.

Commenting on the benefits of the proposal, Habibu said reserving special seats for women would reduce harassment and create a safer space for female politicians.

Like what is happening in the Senate, we have seen the case of Senator Natasha; she has been crying out but nobody comes to her rescue. Unfortunately, there are not enough women to back her. I think creating special seats for women would increase their safety and help them,” he said.

Sokoto: Debate over equality and democracy

In Sokoto, some lawmakers have expressed reservations about the proposal, describing it as discriminatory.

Hon. Habibu Modachi, who represents Isa Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, said the move was “undemocratic and unnecessary.”

According to him, democracy thrives on open competition, not on special allocations based on gender.

“There is no country in the world where seats in parliament are permanently reserved for women,” Modachi said. “The move negates the tenets of the democratic process, where elective positions should be open to all qualified members of society regardless of gender. Even in advanced democracies, there is no such provision. What we often see is that after elections, presidents or governors may appoint women into executive roles, but not exclusive legislative seats.”

The debate comes amid growing concerns over the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigerian politics, particularly in northern states like Sokoto. Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Sokoto has never elected a single female lawmaker to its 30-member House of Assembly.

Women’s rights advocates and civil society organisations have long decried the systemic barriers—cultural, religious, and financial—that hinder women’s political participation in the region. They argue that without proactive measures such as gender quotas or exclusive seats, women may continue to be sidelined in governance.

However, critics like Modachi insist that merit and open competition should remain the basis for political participation.

“If women want to be part of the legislative process, they should contest like everyone else. Creating exclusive seats is not the solution; it’s a shortcut that undermines our democratic values,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, proponents of the bill argue that affirmative action is a necessary step toward achieving gender balance in governance, especially in states where decades of male-dominated politics have failed to create room for female voices.

Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina: A blank page in women’s political history

The situation in Zamfara State mirrors that of Sokoto, where no woman has ever won a seat in the 24-member legislature.

The 30-member Jigawa State House of Assembly currently has no female legislator. Records show that the state is yet to produce a female lawmaker since its creation.

Similarly, the 34-member Katsina State House of Assembly is composed entirely of men. Katsina has consistently recorded zero female representation in successive assemblies since 1999.

The 24-member Yobe State House of Assembly also has no female member, though the state has produced women representatives at the federal level in the House of Representatives.

Kano: All-male assembly under scrutiny

The Kano State House of Assembly also has no female member among its 40 lawmakers, making it one of the few state assemblies in Nigeria without a single woman in its legislative ranks.

Political observers say the all-male composition of the Kano Assembly underscores the deep gender imbalance in northern politics, despite Nigeria’s commitment to 35 percent affirmative action for women’s political participation.

Civil society advocates in Kano have continued to call for party reforms, financial support mechanisms, and electoral incentives to enable more women to participate in future elections.

If the National Assembly passes the constitutional amendment and transmits it to the 36 state assemblies for concurrence, Kano’s position is expected to be closely watched as a test case for male-dominated legislatures across the North.

Reacting to the development, political observer Aisha Abdulhamid said the all-male composition of the Assembly is “a stark reminder of the structural and cultural barriers that women face in northern politics.”

“This situation clearly shows that voluntary inclusion is not working. Unless the law mandates a minimum representation threshold for women, states like Kano will continue to lag behind in gender equity,” she said.

She added that the proposed special seats bill could serve as a “necessary affirmative action” to balance decades of male dominance in Nigeria’s legislative institutions.

As of press time, members of the Kano State House of Assembly could not be reached for comment, as the Assembly is currently on recess and most members are said to be out of the country.

Abia: Gains of 2015 lost

In Abia State, the 24-member House of Assembly is also made up entirely of men.

In 2015, the state produced five female legislators, but in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, no woman was elected into the Assembly.

Imo: Women missing in action

The Imo State House of Assembly, which has 27 members, is also entirely male. While the state has had a handful of women in the Assembly in the past, their representation has been consistently low.

For instance, Hon. Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba Constituency) and Hon. Ngozi S. M. Obiefule (Isu Constituency) were among the few women elected during the 9th Assembly (2019–2023).

23 state assemblies with female legislators

Meanwhile, a total of 23 state assemblies across the country have produced 54 female lawmakers.

The states include Rivers (6); Akwa Ibom (4); Bayelsa (2); Delta (2); Cross River (1); Edo (1); Ebonyi (2); Enugu (2); Anambra (1); Taraba (2); and Adamawa (1). Others are Kaduna (2); Kwara (5); Benue (2); Kogi (2); Plateau (2); Ekiti (6); Lagos (3); Ondo (3); Ogun (2); Oyo (2); and Niger (1).

A further breakdown shows that the South West and South-South regions each produced 16 female legislators, followed by the North Central with 12. The South East produced five, the North East three, while the North West had only two.

In the South West, five of the six states produced female lawmakers. Ekiti topped the list with six, followed by Lagos and Ondo with three each, and Ogun and Oyo with two apiece. Osun is the only state in the region without a female legislator.

In the South-South, Rivers have six female lawmakers, Akwa Ibom four, Bayelsa and Delta two each, while Cross River and Edo produced one each.

In the North Central, Kwara led with five, followed by Benue, Plateau, and Kogi with two each, while Nasarawa and Niger had one each.

In the South East, Ebonyi and Enugu produced two female lawmakers each, while Anambra produced one. Abia and Imo had none.

In the North East, Taraba produced two female lawmakers and Adamawa one, while Borno, Gombe, Yobe, and Bauchi had none.

In the North West, only Kaduna produced two female lawmakers, while Kano, Zamfara, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kebbi had none.

Factors limiting women’s political representation

Dr. Damilola Agbalojobi, a political scientist and gender specialist, identified the high cost of politics, poor media coverage of female candidates, and cultural and religious norms surrounding marriage and family responsibilities as major factors limiting women’s participation in Nigerian politics.

According to her, women often lack the financial capacity to pay for the mandatory expression-of-interest and nomination forms required by political parties, not to mention the huge cost of election campaigns.

She added that women’s limited access to education translates to fewer employment opportunities, making it more difficult for them to sustain political ambitions or secure leadership positions. (Weekend Trust)