By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced only three female senatorial candidates across 99 concluded senatorial primaries for Nigeria’s 2027 general election, despite repeated calls for stronger implementation of the 35 percent affirmative action policy. The candidates emerged in Lagos West, Anambra Central, and Kwara South, while several other prominent female politicians either lost their primaries or faced disqualification, raising fresh concerns over women’s representation in elective politics.
Women Secure Only Three APC Senatorial Tickets
Among the women who secured APC senatorial tickets are Idiat Adebule for Lagos West, Ngozi Kene-Chiedu for Anambra Central, and Muheebah Dankaka for Kwara South.
Adebule, who currently represents Lagos West in the Senate and previously served as Deputy Governor of Lagos State, emerged as the party’s consensus candidate. Key APC stakeholders in the district had endorsed her before the primary election.
Dankaka recorded one of the biggest surprises of the primaries after defeating Lola Ashiru to clinch the APC ticket in Kwara South.
Meanwhile, Kene-Chiedu emerged as the party’s female flagbearer for Anambra Central.
Prominent Female Aspirants Fail to Advance
Several notable female politicians did not secure APC tickets.
Former APC National Women Leader aspirant Amina Ibrahim lost the senatorial primary in the Federal Capital Territory.
Former senator Folashade Grace Bent also failed to secure the party’s ticket in Adamawa South.
In Abia Central, Nkechi Nwogu lost her senatorial bid.
The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, was disqualified from the APC senatorial primary in Ogun West.
Other unsuccessful aspirants included Halima Zakari and Jumoke Akindele, who contested in Ondo South.
In Rivers West, Senator Ipalibo Banigo was disqualified from the APC senatorial primary. Banigo, a former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and current Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, has pledged to challenge the decision after the party cleared Felix Obuah.
Renewed Debate Over Women’s Political Representation
Nigeria adopted the 35 percent affirmative action principle through the National Gender Policy in 2006 to increase women’s participation in governance and leadership.
However, implementation has remained limited over the years. Women currently occupy only a small percentage of elective offices nationwide.
In March, female deputy governors appealed to APC leadership to reserve 35 percent of elective positions for women ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a letter addressed to APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, they argued that women’s representation in elective office remains between four and five percent, placing Nigeria among countries with the lowest female political representation globally.
They also stressed that broader participation by women would strengthen governance, expand voter engagement, and position the party as more inclusive.
Earlier, Yilwatda assured party stakeholders during a meeting in Abuja with the Forum of 2027 APC Female Aspirants’ Network (FAFAN) that gender inclusion would remain central to APC preparations for the 2027 elections.
Outlook for 2027
With only three female candidates confirmed from 99 completed senatorial contests, pressure is likely to increase on political parties to translate gender inclusion commitments into actual nominations before the 2027 general election.
