Women's participation in Nigerian politics faces significant structural barriers, particularly incumbency advantages and financial constraints, according to Chief Mrs Osasu Igbinedion, founder of TOS Foundation Africa. She identified these factors as key impediments preventing women from contesting and winning elections. Speaking on the challenges women face, Igbinedion noted that existing political structures favour those already in power, making it harder for new entrants—especially women—to break through. Financial demands of running campaigns also disproportionately affect women, who often lack access to personal wealth or institutional funding.
Igbinedion highlighted ongoing efforts to advance the Reserved Seats Bill, which proposes guaranteed legislative positions for women at federal and state levels. She stressed that underrepresentation is not due to lack of capacity but systemic exclusion. With the 2027 elections approaching, she called for deliberate policy interventions to level the playing field. The TOS Foundation Africa continues to advocate for gender equity in governance and supports women aspiring to political office through training and mentorship.
Chief Mrs Osasu Igbinedion's spotlight on incumbency and financial hurdles cuts to the core of why women remain marginalised in Nigeria's political arena—power is concentrated, and breaking into it requires resources most women do not have. Her position as founder of TOS Foundation Africa gives her insight a grounded credibility, rooted in years of frontline engagement rather than abstract critique.
The Reserved Seats Bill, which she champions, exposes a paradox: Nigeria's political class talks up inclusion while maintaining systems that ensure continuity of male dominance. The fact that women must rely on special legislative provisions to gain representation reveals how deeply skewed the playing field is. Even with quotas or affirmative action, implementation remains uncertain, as seen with previous gender bills that stalled in the National Assembly.
For ordinary Nigerian women, especially young aspirants in local communities, the cost of political entry—both financial and social—remains prohibitive. Without access to campaign funding or party sponsorship, many qualified women are forced to the sidelines. This limits policy outcomes that reflect women's lived realities.
This is not an isolated issue but part of a broader pattern where political space is guarded, not opened. Until power structures diversify organically, reserved seats may be the only viable bridge.
