The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections, laying bare a severe and persistent gender gap that leaves female aspirants occupying just a fraction of the electoral landscape.
Out of a total of 4,408 candidates cleared to vie for seats in both chambers of the federal legislature, women account for a meager 443 contestants—translating to roughly 10 percent of the entire field, while men command a towering 3,965 tickets.
- The Senate Battle: For the 109 upper-chamber seats, political parties put forward 1,195 candidates in total, with women claiming only 115 slots compared to 1,080 men.
- The House of Representatives: Out of 3,213 contenders jostling for 360 green-chamber seats, men dominate with 2,885 candidates, leaving just 328 women in the running.
- Party Standouts: The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) emerged as the outlier with the highest inclusion rate, fielding 11 women for the Senate and 42 for the House of Representatives.
The release casts a long shadow over ongoing advocacy for affirmative action and gender parity in Nigerian politics, arriving just as parties shift into high gear ahead of the January 16, 2027 polls. While civil society groups and women’s rights advocates continue to decry high nomination fees, intra-party gatekeeping, and structural violence as major deterrents, the numbers signal that women’s representation in the federal parliament faces another uphill battle.
