Politics Is About Numbers, Not Gender, First Lady Tells APC Women Leaders to Deepen…
…Urges Female Politicians to Deepen Grassroots Engagement, Hold Town Hall Meetings
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged women seeking elective positions to strengthen their grassroots presence and build stronger relationships with constituents, stressing that political success is determined by numbers and public support rather than gender.
Speaking on Monday while hosting women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, Mrs Tinubu encouraged female politicians, particularly those already holding public office, to maintain regular engagement with their communities through town hall meetings and other interactive platforms.
Her remarks come amid concerns over the low number of women who secured party tickets during the recently concluded APC primaries.
Responding to questions on efforts to improve women’s participation in politics, the First Lady said aspiring female politicians must understand and effectively utilise existing party structures while cultivating support at the grassroots level.
“There are party structures that you have to acknowledge. You should understand that politics is not about gender; it is about numbers,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu emphasised the need for women seeking political office to earn the confidence of voters by remaining accessible and responsive to their needs.
“They have to connect with the people whose trust they want. They have to connect. I don’t see that, I’m sorry to say. And then, when they win, when they get this position, do they listen to you?” she asked.
The First Lady commended APC women leaders for their mobilisation efforts across the country and urged them to sustain their engagement with party members and local communities.
She also expressed optimism about the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that significant progress had been made in addressing key national challenges over the last three years.
“We have identified the problems and we are working to fix them. It will take time to sing our victory song, but this administration has done a lot in three years,” she said.
Describing Nigeria as a country with enormous potential, Mrs Tinubu highlighted ongoing investments in road and rail infrastructure as part of efforts to improve transportation, connectivity and economic growth.
“Flights are expensive everywhere, even in America, but the President is working on roads and rail to connect our people,” she added.
The First Lady also highlighted the recent 10 Million Women, One Voice initiative and a women’s rally held ahead of the meeting, describing both programmes as important steps towards empowering women and increasing their participation in national development.
She advocated making the initiative an annual event dedicated to celebrating women and supporting vulnerable groups across the country.
“We can come together, celebrate each other and empower the vulnerable,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu disclosed that buses donated to support party activities had already been distributed across APC zones for use by women and party members.
Encouraging more women to seek leadership positions, she said educational limitations should not discourage qualified individuals from participating in politics.
“The minimum requirement to run for office is a school certificate; you can aspire. But more education helps you stand firm,” she said.
She further stressed the importance of balancing political engagement with family responsibilities, maintaining that strong family values remain essential to national stability and social development.
“You can do politics and keep your home. Even though I play politics, I take care of my home,” she said.
According to the First Lady, many of the social challenges confronting the country can be traced to problems within the family structure.
“Many of the restiveness we see stems from the home. Raise good children and build solid homes,” she added.
Mrs Tinubu also urged women leaders to assist citizens in accessing employment and empowerment opportunities by guiding them through application processes and available government platforms.
“There are jobs, but many people don’t know how to apply. Tell them to use the portal. If the application is online, apply online — don’t miss the chance,” she said.
She further reiterated the need for a national population census, noting that accurate demographic data remains critical for effective planning, resource allocation and national development.
“I can’t wait till the government has a census so that we can know the people we are planning for,” the First Lady stated.