By Seyifunmi Azeez
The Forum of Female Deputy Governors in Nigeria has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt bold affirmative action measures to increase women’s participation in elective and appointive offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded letter dated March 27 and addressed to Professor Nentawe Yilwatda at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the group congratulated the party chairman on his leadership while calling on the ruling party to translate its political dominance into structural reforms that will guarantee greater gender inclusion.
Co‑ordinated by Senator (Dr.) Akon Eyakenyi, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the letter praised Yilwatda’s stewardship since assuming office, describing it as “steady and reassuring” and crediting him with maintaining cohesion amid internal challenges.
“At a time when political parties across the country continue to grapple with internal divisions, you have helped to keep ours cohesive, focused and forward‑looking,” the letter said.
The forum highlighted the APC’s current political strength, noting that the party controls 31 out of 36 state governorship seats, a remarkable achievement under Yilwatda’s watch and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“This is not a mean feat,” the letter said, adding that the party is uniquely positioned to set a national precedent on women’s inclusion.
While commending President Tinubu’s efforts to tackle perennial economic challenges and noting early signs of stability and renewed investor confidence, the female deputy governors stressed that gender inclusion remains a major gap in Nigeria’s democratic governance.
They presented sobering data on women’s political participation across elective offices in the country: only nine female deputy governors nationwide; four women in the Senate; 17 in the House of Representatives; and 48 across all State Houses of Assembly. This translates to roughly 4–5% female representation in elective offices, one of the lowest globally.
The letter noted that 13 states currently have no female legislator at all, a statistic the forum described as unacceptable given women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population and a significant portion of the electorate. In contrast, countries such as Rwanda, where women hold over 60% of parliamentary seats, and South Africa and Senegal, which have surpassed 40%, were cited as models for inclusive representation.
The signatories emphasised that the low figures reflect structural barriers in how parties recruit, support and allocate tickets rather than any lack of capable women in the polity. “Nigeria is blessed with competent, experienced and capable women who have demonstrated leadership across various sectors,” the letter said, adding that many are already contributing meaningfully within the APC.
Referencing President Tinubu’s recent observation at an APC National Executive Committee meeting that “there were too few women in the room,” the forum said the statement was both instructive and a high‑level recognition that more must be done.
As the country gears up for the 2027 general elections, the female deputy governors urged the APC to take a “deliberate look” at strengthening its position not just electorally but also structurally and strategically. They proposed a clear affirmative action framework that includes:
* A minimum of 35% representation for women in State Houses of Assembly;
* At least one female member of the House of Representatives per Senatorial District;
* At least one female Senator per state; and
* A minimum of 18 female deputy governors nationwide.
The letter also called for deliberate steps to support the emergence of at least one female governor in each geopolitical zone, noting that Nigeria has never elected a woman as substantive governor. The forum advocated immediate actions such as retaining current female deputy governors for second terms, increasing women in key appointive positions and prioritising women during party primaries.
The deputy governors framed expanding women’s participation as not only a matter of fairness, but also smart strategy. They said “diverse perspectives” enrich governance, strengthen the party’s appeal among female and young voters, and position the APC as responsive to modern leadership realities.
“The expansion of women’s participation will enrich governance by bringing diverse perspectives into decision‑making, strengthen our voter base and position our party as forward‑looking and responsive to the realities of modern leadership,” the letter said.
Signed by Senator (Dr.) Akon Eyakenyi as co‑ordinator, the letter concluded: “Sir, this is a defining moment. Not just for women in our party, but for the legacy of the APC. We have an opportunity to move beyond incremental progress and take a decisive step that will shape the future of political participation in Nigeria.”
The intervention comes as the APC holds its national convention in Abuja where Yilwatda was widely expected to be returned as National Chairman and as the party has hosted programmes for female aspirants and signalled that gender inclusion will be a key pillar of its 2027 strategy.