Women's rights groups in Ekiti State are pushing political parties to do more for female candidates ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The coalition released a joint statement over the weekend in Akure. They want concrete action, not empty promises about women's representation.
According to the groups, women deserve genuine opportunities to contest and win party nominations. Currently, females are often frozen out of serious political positions.
Representation must go beyond state assembly seats, the coalition stressed. Women should compete for Senate and House of Representatives slots too.
Nigeria's 1999 Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to vote and contest elections. Yet this constitutional promise remains largely theoretical, the groups noted.
"Women are not only voters," the statement read. "They are critical stakeholders in nation-building and democratic governance."
Symbolic gestures and tokenism won't cut it anymore, the coalition insisted. Political parties must genuinely commit to inclusive democracy through concrete measures.
Ekiti State currently has 26 percent women representation in its 7th Assembly. The groups want to see this figure climb significantly in the 8th Assembly.
A 35 percent benchmark exists for women's representation across Nigeria. But for many, it remains just words on paper, not lived reality.
How candidates emerge from party structures matters enormously. Political parties control access to democracy at its starting point.
"When women are excluded at nomination, democracy itself is already compromised," the statement warned. One vote hasn't been cast yet, but the game's already rigged.
The coalition made five key demands on Ekiti's political parties. First, they must create clear, inclusive guidelines for picking candidates.
Second, parties should publicly commit to the 35 percent affirmative action target. This commitment must cover Senate, House, and Assembly races.
Third, internal party processes must be free from discrimination and intimidation. Women should navigate candidate selection without facing deliberate obstacles.
The groups also called on electoral stakeholders to monitor compliance. Activists, government institutions, and the public must hold parties accountable.
Several organizations signed the statement, including the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative. Others include Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development and Ekiti Women Arise.
The Gender Mobile Initiative and Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion also backed the call. More groups joined the coalition pushing for real change.
Women have long played vital roles in Nigeria's elections and governance. Yet they remain underrepresented in candidacy and political decision-making positions.
June 20, 2026 marks Ekiti's next governorship election date. Both major and minor parties will select candidates before then.
The coalition's message is clear: the time for inclusion is now. Parties must prove they're serious about women's political participation.
