Soludo calls for greater women’s participation in Nigerian politics

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has lamented the poor participation of Nigerian women in active politics, describing any attempt to exclude them from politics as incomplete and lacking harmony.

Governor Soludo stated this during his speech at the National Women Summit held in Abuja with the theme ‘Advancing Women Inclusion in Politics and Governance’.

Represented by his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, he noted that for the country’s democracy to be complete, women must be accorded the vantage position in the nation’s politics, particularly at the centre of decision-making processes.

The summit was packaged by the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA); it brought together women leaders, political stakeholders, civil society actors, and gender advocates from across the country for a robust, nonpartisan conversation on increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s political and governance spaces”

According to a statement to newsmen on Sunday in Awka, the state capital, by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Mazi Ejimofor Opara, “This summit is not about APGA alone; it is about Nigeria.

“When women are excluded from the table, policies become incomplete. Advancing women’s inclusion is not a favour to women; it is an investment in better governance for all Nigerians.”

Declaring the summit open, APGA National Chairman, Chief Sly Ezeokenwa, said the party’s decision to host the dialogue was driven by the conviction that national development cannot be achieved when more than half of the population remains underrepresented”

ALSO READ: Tinubu’s wife hailed over commitment to empowering Nigerian women

Opara noted that Speakers identified financial constraints, cultural norms, violence against women in politics, and party nomination bottlenecks as major hurdles.

“Calls were made for political parties to adopt internal affirmative action, for passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, and for full implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action policy.

“Women in Governance: Women leaders shared experiences and stressed the need for mentorship, capacity building, and financing to support the next generation of women leaders.

“Though hosted by APGA, the summit was a non-partisan platform with representatives from other parties, women’s groups, and development partners in attendance,” Opara said.

The APGA National Woman Leader, Lizzy Nwokeocha, said, “The plight of Nigerian women in politics cuts across party lines.”

“Today we put partisan interests aside to confront a national challenge. Our daughters deserve a political system that welcomes them.

“The summit also advocated for constitutional and electoral reforms for greater women’s representation as well as urging political parties to implement voluntary quotas and support women aspirants.

⁠”Establish a national mentorship network for women in politics and push for better data collection on women’s participation at all levels,” Nwokeocha said.

The APGA national scribe reaffirmed the party’s commitment to deepen internal mechanisms that promote women’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.