2027: We’ill seek legislative backing for affirmative action, INEC assures women group

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it would seek legislative backing for changes to the Constitution and the Electoral Act to improve the representation of women and marginalised groups in parliament ahead of the next general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the Women’s Collective Forum, led by Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo.

Yakubu said: “For elective representation, the Commission believes that the most effective way of ensuring greater representation for women and other marginalised groups in the legislative assemblies is affirmative action supported by clear legal provision as was the case in many jurisdictions. This calls for the amendment of sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022.

“Accordingly, the ongoing review of the Constitution and the Electoral Act offers an opportunity to engage with our lawmakers for appropriate legislative action. Happily, the matter is back on the legislative agenda. At our retreat early this year with members of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters, we supported the amendment that will ensure greater representation of women in elective positions.”

Yakubu also pointed to INEC’s internal record. “This means that 55% of the Directors at the Headquarters here in Abuja are women. Across the States of the Federation, many of our substantive Administrative Secretaries, who are also Directors, are women.”

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