- The Goal: 249 additional legislative seats exclusively for women.
- The Reason: To accelerate inclusive development and align with global gender-balanced governance.
- The Method: Constitutional amendments and special constituency structures.
- The Added Push: Reforms in the appointment of INEC leadership for greater electoral integrity.
WRAPA’s Vision: More Women in Power
WRAPA is on a mission to shake up Nigeria’s political landscape. They’re not just talking about equality; they’re demanding it. The organization wants an additional 249 legislative seats reserved exclusively for women across the state and national assemblies.
What’s the Big Idea?
According to WRAPA, making a constitutional provision for the ‘Additional and Reserved Seats for Women Bill’ is vital. Saudatu Mahdi, the Secretary General of WRAPA Nigeria, believes this will “position Nigeria for accelerated, inclusive development, aligning us with other progressive nations advancing gender-balanced governance.”
Breaking Down the Numbers
Here’s how WRAPA plans to get those 249 seats:
- Senatorial Seats: One additional seat per state and the Federal Capital Territory, adding up to 37 seats.
- House of Representatives: Two additional seats per state, totaling 74 seats.
- State Assembly Seats: One additional seat per senatorial district, bringing in 108 seats.
How Would This Actually Work?
WRAPA isn’t just throwing numbers around; they have a plan. They’re urging the National Assembly to set up a special constituency structure for women contesting these seats. This would be a temporary measure, lasting 12 years (three election cycles), with a review in the middle to see how it’s going. According to a study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), temporary special measures can significantly boost women’s representation in politics.
More Than Just Seats: Fixing the Electoral System
WRAPA isn’t stopping at just adding seats. They’re also pushing for reforms in how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is run. Mahdi wants an independent panel to handle the selection process for the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). She points to Kenya’s IEBC model as an example.
Why This Matters
According to WRAPA, the current system, where the President has the power to appoint these positions, is risky. It opens the door to political meddling and hurts public trust. An independent panel, they argue, would “guarantee impartiality and operational independence” and “enhance public trust in electoral processes.” The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has long advocated for electoral reforms that promote transparency and independence.
What’s Next?
WRAPA is calling on the 10th National Assembly to make this happen. They see it as a historic opportunity to make a real difference for women in Nigeria. Will the lawmakers listen? Only time will tell.