Kogi Speaker Backs Women Inclusion, Endorses Campaign for Reserved Legislative Seats

The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Aliyu Umar, has reaffirmed his support for greater inclusion of women in governance, backing ongoing advocacy for the creation of special legislative seats for women in Nigeria.

The speaker gave the assurance on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian League of Women Voters (NILOWV), which is campaigning for constitutional reforms to reserve seats for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Comfort Nwuchiola, Umar commended the group’s commitment to promoting women’s participation in politics and governance.

A statement by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Yabagi Mohammed, said the engagement formed part of NILOWV’s nationwide advocacy to strengthen women’s representation in elective offices.

Earlier, the state chairperson of NILOWV, Aisha Isa, presented the group’s proposal for an electoral college system to fill the proposed reserved seats, describing it as a practical approach to improving women’s political representation.

Under the proposal, women occupying the additional reserved seats would emerge through an indirect election rather than the regular general election. Political parties would nominate female candidates, while an electoral college would elect successful candidates in polls to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the proposal, the electoral college would comprise elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen, councillors, members of the State House of Assembly, members of the House of Representatives from the state, and senators.

In Kogi State, the proposed electoral college would consist of chairmen and vice chairmen of the 21 local government areas, councillors, the 25 members of the State House of Assembly, nine members of the House of Representatives and three senators.

NILOWV explained that the proposed reserved seats would be additional positions and would not prevent women from contesting existing elective offices.

The organisation argued that electoral reforms had become necessary following recent party primaries, in which many qualified female aspirants, including serving lawmakers, failed to secure party nominations.

Beyond political representation, the group also renewed its commitment to promoting girls’ education across Kogi State as part of efforts to curb child molestation and early marriage.

It said the initiative would focus on public enlightenment, community mobilisation and creating a safe environment that would enable more girls to remain in school.

NILOWV congratulated women in Kogi State and across the country for sustaining the campaign for increased political inclusion and expressed optimism that the advocacy would eventually lead to equitable representation.

The organisation also urged women to remain united in advancing political participation and contributing to national development.