President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has blamed the poor performance of female politicians in Nigeria’s elections on the lack of support they receive from other women.
Akpabio made this remark on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the European Union Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Mr. David McAllister, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
“Women often vote for male candidates, making it difficult for female candidates to win elections,” he said.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor expressed concern over the persistent gender imbalance in Nigeria’s politics, noting that although women constitute nearly half of the electorate, their representation in parliament remains among the lowest in Africa.
Currently, only four of the 109 senators and 17 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives are women — figures that have barely changed in two decades.
Akpabio revealed that the National Assembly is exploring “innovative solutions, including constitutional amendments,” to promote gender inclusion in politics and governance. He added that the legislature is open to collaborating with advocacy groups such as the Black Women’s Forum to achieve this goal.
In his remarks, McAllister, who led the EU delegation alongside Ambassador Greta Mylott, said their mission was to strengthen understanding of West Africa’s situation and deepen the EU’s partnership with Nigeria.
He reiterated the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic and developmental progress, especially in addressing terrorism, climate change, and economic challenges.
“The EU is committed to supporting Nigeria’s development efforts,” McAllister stated, emphasising the bloc’s interest in a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
The visit was part of a wider West African tour, which includes Ghana, ahead of the International Islamic Conference on Security and Governance in West Africa and the Sahel, set to begin on November 4, 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission.
Akpabio expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would yield meaningful results and reaffirmed Nigeria’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with the EU in key areas such as security, trade, and governance.
“Nigeria is committed to strengthening ties with the EU and deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” he said.