The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) has called for structural reforms to boost women's political participation before the 2027 general elections. The appeal was made in Abuja on Tuesday during a joint press briefing with faith-based and civil society groups, including Dominicans for Justice and Peace at the United Nations, AFJN Nigeria, and Catholic religious sisters. The coalition highlighted Nigeria's current four per cent female representation in governance as a critical setback to national development. Mother Leonie-Martha Okaraga, former Superior General of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, said women make up nearly half the population but remain excluded from political and decision-making roles. She pointed to structural, cultural, social, and economic barriers that force many female aspirants to depend on political "godfathers" to run. Violence, harassment, and intimidation during elections further deter women from contesting, she added. Okaraga stressed that inclusive leadership leads to more responsive and humane policies. "When women are an integral part of the decision-making in political processes, policies are more humane and more embracing of the common good," she said. She referenced Rwanda, Cuba, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates as nations where constitutional support for women's participation improved governance. Nigeria ranks 178th out of 182 countries in women's political inclusion, according to her. She urged enforceable actions to ensure financial access for female candidates and stronger legal protections against electoral violence. "We therefore call on Nigeria's political leadership at all levels to move beyond rhetoric toward intentional and enforceable actions that guarantee meaningful participation," she said. Revrend Aniedi Okure, permanent delegate of the Dominicans to the UN Human Rights Council, stated the coalition is non-partisan and focused on national welfare. Sister Eucharia Madueke, AFJN Washington Coordinator for Women Empowerment, backed affirmative action, including "special seats" for women, urging the National Assembly to pass relevant laws.
A coalition led by religious figures calls for enforceable actions on women's political inclusion while relying on moral appeals rather than concrete political leverage. The same leaders decry godfatherism yet offer no mechanism to dismantle the power structures that sustain it. Their proposal for special seats lacks detail on how such a model would work within Nigeria's current electoral framework. With 2027 approaching, calls remain detached from the political machinery needed to achieve them.
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