Women vote more for men, hindering female candidates — Akpabio
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, attributed the poor performance of female politicians in Nigeria’s elections to the lack of support from fellow women.
Akpabio disclosed this when he received 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 stated
The former Akwa Ibom State governor lamented the persistent gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political landscape, noting that despite women constituting almost 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 improved over the past two decades.
Akpabio, however, assured all that the National Assembly was already considering “innovative solutions, including constitutional amendments,” to increase female participation in politics and governance, with support from advocacy groups such as the Black Women’s Forum.
McAllister, who led the EU delegation that included Ambassador Greta Mylott, said their mission was to “deepen our understanding of the situation in West Africa and strengthen our partnership with Nigeria.”
He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic and developmental efforts, particularly in addressing issues such as terrorism, climate change, and economic stability.
“The EU is committed to supporting Nigeria’s development efforts,” McAllister said, stressing the bloc’s interest in a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
The delegation’s visit is part of a broader West African tour that includes Ghana and precedes the International Islamic Conference on Security and Governance in West Africa and the Sahel, scheduled to start on November 4, 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission.
Akpabio expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would yield tangible benefits, saying Nigeria remains ready to collaborate with the EU on shared challenges, including security, trade, and governance.
“Nigeria is committed to strengthening ties with the EU, highlighting areas of mutual interest, including security, trade, and governance,” Akpabio said.
