Kogi Assembly Speaker Backs Women’s Inclusion in Governance, Supports Special Seats Advocacy
…As NILOWV Pushes for Reserved Seats Law to Boost Women’s Representation in Nigeria
By Yahaya Idris, Lokoja
The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar, has reaffirmed his commitment to promoting women’s inclusion in governance, declaring support for initiatives aimed at increasing female representation in legislative and political leadership across Nigeria.
The Speaker made the commitment on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian League of Women Voters (NILOWV), held as part of the organization’s nationwide advocacy for the creation of special legislative seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar was represented at the meeting by the Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Comfort Nwuchiola.
Speaking during the engagement, the Chairperson of NILOWV in Kogi State, Aisha Isa, presented a proposal advocating for an electoral college system to fill the proposed reserved seats for women if the constitutional amendment is approved.
She explained that under the proposal, women occupying the additional legislative seats would not emerge through direct elections. Instead, political parties would nominate qualified female candidates, while members of an electoral college would elect successful candidates through an indirect election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the proposal, the electoral college would comprise elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen, councillors, members of the State House of Assembly, members of the House of Representatives from the state, and senators.
For Kogi State, the proposed electoral college would include the chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 21 local government areas, councillors, the 25 members of the State House of Assembly, nine members of the House of Representatives, and three senators representing the state.
NILOWV emphasized that the proposed reserved seats would serve as additional legislative positions and would not prevent women from contesting existing elective offices through regular elections.
The organization argued that electoral reforms have become increasingly necessary following recent political party primaries, during which several qualified female aspirants—including incumbent lawmakers—failed to secure party nominations.
Beyond political inclusion, NILOWV also renewed its commitment to advancing girls’ education throughout Kogi State as part of efforts to combat child molestation, child marriage, and other barriers preventing girls from achieving their educational potential.
The group said it would continue creating awareness, mobilizing communities, and encouraging policies that provide a safe and supportive environment for girls to remain in school.
NILOWV further congratulated women across Kogi State and Nigeria for sustaining the campaign for greater political inclusion and expressed optimism that the advocacy for equal representation would eventually produce lasting constitutional and democratic reforms.
The organization also urged women to remain united and actively participate in promoting inclusive governance and national development.