Women Blocked from Leadership as Party Primaries Disfavor Female Candidates

Juliet Akoje In Abuja

The founder of TOS Foundation Africa, Chief Mrs. Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, has highlighted what she sees as a systematic exclusion of women from political leadership through party primary processes, warning that internal party mechanisms are increasingly sidelining women ahead of the 2027 general election.

Ogwuche, who also heads the HerCademy Leadership Institute, cited a statement by former Liberian President and Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, noting that women make up half of society and that their empowerment should be regarded as a necessity rather than a favour.

She recalled that when TOS Foundation Africa launched its advocacy campaign for the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, a recurring question was why women could not compete directly with men in politics instead of seeking reserved seats.

In a statement issued by her yesterday, critics argued that political success is earned through struggle and not handed out.

However, Ogwuche countered that the current realities within Nigeria’s political system provide answers to those concerns, insisting that the structures guiding political participation already place women at a disadvantage before electoral contests even begin.

She observed that as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 election by unveiling primary election procedures and internal regulations, a troubling pattern has emerged.

According to her, women in politics are increasingly being sidelined, reinforcing longstanding claims that the system is skewed against female participation from the outset.

Ogwuche highlighted Nigeria’s poor performance in women’s political representation, noting that the country currently ranks 180th out of 185 nations in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s global ranking of women in parliament.

She pointed out that Nigeria falls behind countries affected by conflict and fragile governance structures that have nevertheless prioritised women’s inclusion in leadership.

She further stated that women currently occupy only four per cent of seats in the National Assembly, significantly below the global average of 26.9 per cent.

Drawing comparisons, she noted that Rwanda, despite emerging from genocide, has achieved 61 per cent female representation in parliament, describing Nigeria’s situation as not only embarrassing but a major policy failure.

At the HerCademy Leadership Institute, established to support women aspiring to leadership positions, especially in politics, Ogwuche said female associates have consistently reported pressure from political parties to withdraw in favour of consensus candidates.

She stressed that the trend cuts across several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, Social Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, and others.

Referencing remarks by former South African President Thabo Mbeki at an African Union Summit, she noted that Africa’s advancement cannot be achieved without the full participation of women in economic, social, cultural and political life.

She lamented that Nigerian women are being pushed aside within formal political structures before electoral races commence.

Ogwuche said the central issue is no longer whether women are being excluded from politics, but what practical steps should be taken to address the challenge.

She explained that in March 2025, TOS Foundation Africa launched a campaign advocating for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, a constitutional amendment proposing additional seats in the National and State Houses of Assembly to be contested exclusively by women.

According to her, the bill received wide-ranging endorsements from top political figures and institutions, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, several political party chairmen and other stakeholders.

Despite this level of backing, Ogwuche expressed disappointment that the bill remains stalled at the National Assembly, where it is among 44 constitutional amendment proposals yet to make progress.

She contrasted Nigeria’s situation with countries that have implemented gender quotas or reserved seats, stating that such measures have produced notable gains in women’s representation.

Countries such as Bolivia, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates, she said, have surpassed 50 per cent female representation in parliament due to deliberate structural mechanisms.

Closer to Africa, she referenced Senegal’s 2010 gender parity law, which reportedly increased women’s representation in parliament from 22 per cent to 43 per cent in a short period.

Rwanda’s success, she added