Nigerian Politics Still Male-Dominated — Akpabio Reveals Why Women Struggle To Win Elections

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that many female politicians in Nigeria struggle to win elections because they receive little support from other women.

He made this remark on Tuesday while hosting a high-level delegation from the European Union Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, led by David McAllister, at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Akpabio decried the continued gender imbalance in Nigerian politics, pointing out that although women make up almost half of the voting population, their representation in the National Assembly remains one of the lowest in Africa.

“Women often prefer to vote for male candidates, which makes it difficult for female aspirants to succeed in elections,” he noted.

At present, only four out of 109 senators and 17 of 360 members of the House of Representatives are women—figures that have seen only minimal improvement in the past 20 years.

The Senate President added that the National Assembly is considering “innovative strategies, including constitutional amendments,” to enhance women’s participation in governance. He also expressed readiness to work with advocacy groups like the Black Women’s Forum to advance gender inclusion.

Leading the EU delegation, McAllister—accompanied by Ambassador Greta Mylott—said their mission was to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria and gain deeper insight into the West African region.

He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic institutions and addressing key issues such as terrorism, climate change, and economic development.

“The EU remains fully committed to Nigeria’s progress and stability,” McAllister stated.

The visit is part of a broader West African tour, including Ghana, and comes ahead of the International Islamic Conference on Security and Governance in West Africa and the Sahel, scheduled for November 4, 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission.