Female deputy gov seek 35% quota for women in state assembly

Nigeria’s Female Deputy Governors have called on the All Progressives Congress to adopt a structured affirmative action framework ahead of the 2027 elections to increase women’s participation in elective and party positions.

In a letter signed by the Coordinator, Forum of Female Deputy Governors in Nigeria, Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, on Friday, to the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, they commended his leadership, saying, “Your leadership since you took over this exalted office has been steady and reassuring. You have played a critical role as a unifier, a peace builder, and a stabilising force within the party. At a time when political parties across the country continue to grapple with internal divisions, you have helped to keep ours cohesive, focused, and forward-looking.”

The letter highlighted Nigeria’s low female political representation: only nine female deputy governors, four women in the Senate, seventeen in the House of Representatives, and forty-eight women across all State Houses of Assembly. Thirteen states have no female legislators, leaving overall women’s participation at just 4–5% nationally.

“To address this imbalance, we are proposing a minimum of 35% female representation in State Houses of Assembly, at least one female House of Representatives member per Senatorial District, at least one female Senator per State, a minimum of 18 female Deputy Governors, and support for at least one female Governor in each geopolitical zone,” the letter read

They emphasised that increasing women’s representation is not just about fairness, but also strategic advantage. “Expanding women’s participation strengthens our voter base, enriches governance by bringing diverse perspectives into decision-making, and positions our party as forward-looking and responsive to modern leadership realities,” the letter added.

The deputy governors also pledged to mentor emerging female leaders, strengthen grassroots engagement, and work collaboratively across party structures to achieve these objectives.

“This is a defining moment, not just for women in our party, but for the legacy of the APC. With your continued leadership, and with the support of Mr. President, our party can lead Nigeria forward, not just in words, but in representation, opportunity, and impact,” Eyakenyi said.

The deputy governors urged the party to take immediate steps, describing the 2027 elections as a historic opportunity to break the glass ceiling and set a precedent for women’s political inclusion in Nigeria