Despite 35% affirmative action push, APC produces only three female senatorial candidates across 99 districts
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced only three female senatorial candidates from the 99 senatorial districts where primaries have so far been concluded ahead of the 2027 general election, highlighting the persistent gender gap in Nigeria’s political landscape despite renewed calls for greater inclusion of women.
Out of the country’s 109 senatorial districts, the ruling party is yet to conclude or officially release results for 10 districts. Of the 99 candidates announced, only three are women: Idiat Adebule for Lagos West, Ngozi Kene Chiedu for Anambra Central, and Muheebah Dankaka for Kwara South.
The outcome has reignited concerns over the poor implementation of the 35 percent affirmative action framework designed to increase women’s participation in governance and elective positions.
Adebule, a serving senator and former deputy governor of Lagos State, secured the APC ticket for Lagos West through a consensus arrangement backed by key party stakeholders, including members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC). She remains one of the few women currently serving in the Senate.
In Kwara South, Dankaka, former chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), recorded one of the biggest upsets of the APC primaries after defeating Lola Ashiru, the deputy senate majority leader, to clinch the ticket.
Kene Chiedu also emerged as the APC’s flagbearer for Anambra Central, completing the short list of female senatorial candidates produced by the ruling party so far.
Female aspirants, serving senators suffer setbacks:
Several prominent female aspirants and serving politicians failed in their bids to secure APC senatorial tickets.
Ipalibo Banigo, senator representing Rivers West and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, was disqualified from the APC primary in Rivers State. Banigo, a former deputy governor of the state, has since vowed to challenge her disqualification after the party cleared Felix Obuah as its candidate.
Amina Ibrahim, a former APC national women leader aspirant, lost in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while former Adamawa South senator Folashade Grace Bent also failed to secure the party’s ticket.
Similarly, former Abia Central senator Nkechi Nwogu lost her bid to return to the Senate, while Noimot Salako Oyedele, deputy governor of Ogun State, was disqualified from the Ogun West contest.
Other female aspirants who were unsuccessful include Halima Zakari in Jigawa South West and Jumoke Akindele, former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, who contested in Ondo South.
35% affirmative action still elusive in Nigerian politics
Nigeria adopted the 35 percent affirmative action principle through the National Gender Policy introduced in 2006 to promote women’s representation in politics and governance. However, implementation has remained weak, with women continuing to occupy only a small fraction of elective offices nationwide.
Advocates for gender inclusion have repeatedly urged political parties to reserve more positions for women ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier this year, female deputy governors across the country appealed to the APC leadership to reserve at least 35 percent of elective positions for women.
In a letter addressed to APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, the governors warned that women’s representation in elective offices remains between four and five percent, one of the lowest rates globally.
They argued that increasing women’s participation would strengthen governance, broaden political representation, and position the ruling party as more inclusive and progressive.
Yilwatda had earlier assured members of the Forum of 2027 APC Female Aspirants’ Network (FAFAN) that gender inclusion would be a major focus of the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, noting that the under representation of women weakens democratic ideals in Nigeria.