President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that the underperformance of female politicians in Nigeria’s elections is largely due to insufficient backing from women themselves.
Akpabio made this known on Tuesday while hosting a delegation from the European Union Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Mr. David McAllister, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to him, female candidates often struggle to win elections because most women tend to vote for their male counterparts.
“Women often vote for male candidates, making it difficult for female candidates to win elections,” he said.
The Senate President expressed concern over the enduring gender gap in Nigeria’s political system, observing that despite women constituting nearly half of the voting population, their representation in parliament remains one of the lowest across Africa.
Presently, only four of the 109 senators and 17 of the 360 House of Representatives members are women — a situation that has seen little change in over 20 years.
Akpabio revealed that the National Assembly was already exploring “innovative solutions, including constitutional amendments,” to address gender imbalance and encourage more women’s participation in politics and governance.
He added that the legislature was open to collaborating with advocacy groups like the Black Women’s Forum to drive meaningful reforms in the area of gender inclusion.
Speaking earlier, the head of the EU delegation, Mr. McAllister, who was accompanied by Ambassador Greta Mylott, said their visit aimed to gain deeper insights into West Africa’s political and security landscape and to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria.
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He reiterated the European Union’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democracy and development, especially in tackling insecurity, climate change, and economic difficulties.
“The EU is committed to supporting Nigeria’s development efforts,” McAllister said, emphasizing the bloc’s interest in a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
The visit is part of a broader West African engagement that includes Ghana and precedes the International Islamic Conference on Security and Governance in West Africa and the Sahel, scheduled to take place on November 4, 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission.
Akpabio expressed confidence that the renewed collaboration with the EU would deliver concrete benefits for both sides, stressing Nigeria’s determination to strengthen partnerships on shared priorities such as trade, security, and governance.
“Nigeria is committed to strengthening ties with the EU and deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” he said.