Ekiti 2026: Take concrete steps to ensure more women are in political positions, groups urge parties

Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Women’s Political Participation (WPP), alongside women-led groups and advocates have called on political parties across Ekiti State through the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC) to take deliberate and concrete steps towards advancing women’s political representation through election.

The groups, in a statement jointly signed and made available to journalists at the weekend in Akure, the Ondo State capital, ahead of the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election said the call was to ensure that women are given fair, transparent, and genuine opportunities to contest, compete, and emerge as candidates within party structures and electoral processes in the state.

The statement reads further, “Beyond the State Houses of Assembly, women must also be accorded serious consideration for positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate, rather than being sidelined in political negotiations, consensus arrangements, and power-sharing discussions.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 guarantees every citizen the right to
vote and be voted for, and this constitutional right must be reflected in practice, not merely in principle. Women are not only voters; they are critical stakeholders in nation-building,
democratic governance, and sustainable development.

“The time has come for intentional inclusion and meaningful representation of women in politics, beyond symbolic gestures and tokenism. Political parties must demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusive democracy by creating enabling environments that support and promote women’s leadership and participation.”

The statement further said: “Ekiti State has made significant progress that requires strong political will and political parties’ commitment to maintain the giant stride.

“When women are excluded at the point of nomination, democracy itself is already compromised before a single vote is cast.” Women’s political participation cannot be achieved without transforming how candidates emerge.

“Political parties remain the primary gatekeepers of democratic participation. The extent to which
they create inclusive processes will determine whether the current 26 percent women’s representation at the Ekiti State 7th Assembly will be surpassed or maintained in the 8th
Assembly. This will also determine whether the 35 percent benchmark remains rhetorical or becomes a lived reality.

“We therefore call on all political parties in Ekiti State to institutionalise clear and inclusive guidelines for candidate selection, including where consensus arrangements are adopted.

“Set and publicly commit to the 35 percent affirmative action targets for women’s representation across Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly candidacies.

“Ensure that internal processes are free from discrimination, intimidation, and exclusion. We further call on political activists, electoral stakeholders, government institutions, and the public to hold political parties accountable to the principles of inclusion, fairness, and democratic
integrity.”

The coalition of CSOs on Women’s Political Participation (WPP), includes; the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF), Ekiti Women Arise (EWA), Ekiti Women Advocacy Team (EWAT), Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP), Foundation for Excellent Living and Development (FELAD), Disability not a Barrier Initiative (DINABI).

Others are Media for Human Development Foundation, Kids and Teens Resources Centre (K&TRC), Gender Advocacy Network (GANnet), Rays of Hope Foundation for Sustainable Development, Lighthouse Charity and Legacy Foundation, Society for Women Against AIDs in Africa Nigeria (SWAAN), Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), Haven of Hope Foundation for Health and Community Development and National Council of Women Societies (NCWS).