Hundreds of women took to the streets of Nigeria’s capital on Monday, demanding the passage of the “Special Seats Bill” to create women-only seats in the Senate and House of Representatives. The proposed legislation aims to address Nigeria’s stark gender imbalance in politics by adding one women-only seat for both chambers in each of the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, requiring a constitutional amendment.
The demonstration, which organizer Dorothy Njemanze estimated drew over 1,000 participants, saw women’s groups from across Nigeria converge in a vibrant caravan of buses, vans, and a truck blasting Afrobeats music through Abuja’s boulevards. The protest culminated with the delivery of signatures supporting the bill to a House committee on constitutional reform.
“We want the legislature to work for women,” Njemanze told reporters, highlighting the need for systemic change in a country where women hold only four of 109 Senate seats and 16 of 360 House seats, according to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).
Advocates argue that reserved seats would counter financial barriers, entrenched gender roles, and male-dominated political networks that limit women’s access to power in Africa’s most populous nation. Several African countries, including Senegal and Rwanda, have successfully used quota systems to boost female representation in their legislatures.
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, President Bola Tinubu’s Minister for Women’s Affairs, has signaled support for the bill. However, PLAC cautioned that constitutional amendments require approval from two-thirds of the National Assembly and 24 state legislatures, a challenging process that has derailed similar efforts in recent years.
Protesters expressed hope for change. “I want that seat, because tomorrow, I may be the one contesting for it,” said Onu Ihunania, a 50-year-old civil servant. Ny
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