The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to promoting inclusivity in Nigeria’s democratic process, stressing that affirmative action backed by law remains the most effective pathway to greater representation for women and other marginalised groups in politics.
The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the statement on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, while receiving a delegation from the Women’s Collective Forum on Women’s Participation and Representation in Elective Positions and Party Leadership at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja. He described the visit as timely, coinciding with the United Nations International Day of Democracy observed globally two days earlier.
Prof. Yakubu highlighted INEC’s progress on inclusivity, noting that 12 out of 22 departments and directorates at its Abuja headquarters, or 55 percent, are headed by women. He also pointed to the Commission’s Gender and Inclusivity Department and its continuous engagement with political parties as evidence of its commitment. While acknowledging progress, he noted that more work remains, urging advocates to leverage the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 to secure legal guarantees for representation. He assured the delegation of INEC’s continued partnership in promoting inclusion.
Leader of the Women’s Collective, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, commended INEC for opening space for dialogue but noted that systemic barriers persist in Nigeria’s political culture. She emphasised that inclusion extends beyond women to young people and persons with disabilities, highlighting entrenched structures within political parties that often restrict women to token roles. Toyo urged reforms that would hold both old and newly registered political parties accountable for meaningful inclusivity, calling for legal provisions, voluntary quotas, and strong party reforms as demonstrated in global best practices.
Other members of the delegation, including the Director of the Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, Prof. Jibo Ibrahim, and Adora Jack, reinforced the call for deliberate institutional and legislative action to dismantle structural barriers against women, young people, and persons with disabilities in Nigerian politics.
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