Despite 35% affirmative action push, APC produces only three female senatorial candidates ahead of 2027 elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced only three female senatorial candidates in the primaries conducted so far ahead of the 2027 general election, according to a report by TheCable.

Out of Nigeria’s 109 senatorial districts, the ruling party has concluded and announced candidates for 99 districts, while primaries in 10 districts remain pending, inconclusive, or yet to be officially released.

The three women who secured APC senatorial tickets are Idiat Adebule for Lagos West, Ngozi Kene-Chiedu for Anambra Central, and Muheebah Dankaka for Kwara South.

The outcome has renewed concerns among advocates of gender inclusion over the implementation of Nigeria’s 35 per cent affirmative action policy aimed at improving women’s participation in governance and elective positions.

Adebule, the senator representing Lagos West and a former deputy governor of Lagos State, emerged as the APC consensus candidate after receiving endorsements from party leaders in the district, including members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).

She remains one of the few women currently serving in the National Assembly.

In Kwara South, Dankaka, a former chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), defeated Lola Ashiru, the deputy senate majority leader, to secure the APC ticket in what observers described as one of the major upsets of the primaries.

Kene-Chiedu also emerged as the APC candidate for Anambra Central, becoming the party’s female flagbearer in the district.

Several other female aspirants and serving politicians, however, failed in their bids to secure APC nominations.

Ipalibo Banigo, senator representing Rivers West and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, was disqualified from the APC senatorial primary in Rivers State after the party cleared Felix Obuah for the ticket.

Banigo, a former deputy governor of Rivers State, has vowed to challenge the decision.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Amina Ibrahim, a former APC national women leader aspirant, lost her senatorial primary contest, while Folashade Grace Bent, a former senator representing Adamawa South, also failed to secure the party’s ticket.

Nkechi Nwogu lost her bid in Abia Central, while Noimot Salako-Oyedele, deputy governor of Ogun State, was disqualified in Ogun West.

Other unsuccessful female aspirants included Halima Zakari in Jigawa South-West and Jumoke Akindele, former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, who contested in Ondo South.

Nigeria adopted the 35 per cent affirmative action principle through the National Gender Policy introduced in 2006 to improve women’s representation in governance and political leadership.

Despite the policy, women’s participation in elective office has remained low.

In March, female deputy governors across the country urged the APC to reserve 35 per cent of elective positions for women ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Overall, women’s representation in elective office remains at about four to five per cent, placing Nigeria among the lowest globally,” they said in a letter addressed to APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.

“Nigeria is blessed with competent, experienced, and capable women who have demonstrated leadership across various sectors.

“Expanding women’s participation strengthens our voter base, enriches governance and positions our party as forward-looking.”

Earlier in March, Yilwatda said gender inclusion would form a central part of the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Forum of 2027 APC Female Aspirants’ Network (FAFAN) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, he noted that women account for nearly half of Nigeria’s population and said their under-representation in governance undermines democratic principles.