2027 elections: Women protest at N'assembly over stalling reserved seat bill
Source: Business Day
The protesters, under the aegis of Women Political Participation (WPP) noted that delays in passing the bill could undermine women’s representation in the next parliament. The women, carrying various placards called for swift passage of the bill.
Ene Obi, one of the leaders said, “INEC has released elections timetable, we want increased women participation. Men cannot represent women. We want women to represent themselves.”
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and achieving of the constitution amendment committee alongside 12 other lawmakers, seeks to alter the1999 constitution (as amended) to create one special seat reserved exclusively for women in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Specifically, it proposes the creation of one additional senatorial seat and one additional House seat per state and the FCT to be occupied by women. The bill also seeks to amend Section 91 of the constitution to provide three special seats reserved exclusively for women in each State House of Assembly.
The protesters, under the aegis of Women Political Participation (WPP) noted that delays in passing the bill could undermine women’s representation in the next parliament. The women, carrying various placards called for swift passage of the bill.
Ene Obi, one of the leaders said, “INEC has released elections timetable, we want increased women participation. Men cannot represent women. We want women to represent themselves.”
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and achieving of the constitution amendment committee alongside 12 other lawmakers, seeks to alter the1999 constitution (as amended) to create one special seat reserved exclusively for women in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Specifically, it proposes the creation of one additional senatorial seat and one additional House seat per state and the FCT to be occupied by women. The bill also seeks to amend Section 91 of the constitution to provide three special seats reserved exclusively for women in each State House of Assembly.