Nigeria’s female deputy governors have mounted fresh pressure on the All Progressives Congress (APC), demanding the adoption of a clear and enforceable affirmative action framework to significantly boost women’s participation in the 2027 elections.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, the Forum of Female Deputy Governors, led by its Coordinator and Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, urged the party to move beyond rhetoric and institutionalise gender inclusion across all levels of its political structure.
While commending Yilwatda’s leadership as “steady and reassuring,” and praising his role in stabilising the party amid internal challenges, the governors stressed that true progress would be measured by the party’s willingness to expand opportunities for women.
The letter painted a stark picture of women’s underrepresentation in Nigerian politics. Currently, only nine states have female deputy governors, just four women sit in the Senate, seventeen in the House of Representatives, and a mere forty-eight women are spread across all State Houses of Assembly. Alarmingly, thirteen states have no female legislators at all, leaving women’s participation at an abysmal 4–5 percent nationwide.
Describing the situation as untenable, the governors proposed a bold reform agenda, including a minimum of 35 percent female representation in State Houses of Assembly, at least one female member of the House of Representatives per senatorial district, and at least one female senator from each state.
They also called for no fewer than 18 female deputy governors nationwide and deliberate support for the emergence of at least one female governor in each geopolitical zone.
The forum argued that greater inclusion of women is not merely a question of fairness, but a strategic imperative for political success.
“Expanding women’s participation strengthens our voter base, enriches governance through diverse perspectives, and positions the APC as a modern, forward-looking party,” the letter stated.
Beyond policy demands, the deputy governors pledged to take proactive steps to drive change, including mentoring emerging female leaders, deepening grassroots mobilisation, and building stronger collaboration across party structures.
They described the period leading to the 2027 elections as a defining moment for both the APC and Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
“This is a defining moment not just for women in our party, but for the legacy of the APC. With your leadership and the support of Mr. President, the party can set a new national standard for inclusion, opportunity, and impact,” Eyakenyi stated.
The deputy governors urged the party leadership to act decisively, warning that the 2027 elections present a rare and historic opportunity to break longstanding barriers and reset the trajectory of women’s political representation in Nigeria.
