By Emmanuel Mogbede
Dr Martina Yilwatda, wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged Nigerian women to support and rally behind female political aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She made the call on Sunday in Abuja during a dinner she hosted in honour of the Women Leadership Network (WLN), a political pressure group committed to enhancing female participation in governance and leadership across Nigeria.
Mrs Yilwatda, who serves as the WLN patron, emphasised that meaningful progress in women’s political representation must begin with women themselves, adding that excuses or apathy could no longer drive effective inclusion.
She lamented that while women often complained about exclusion from mainstream politics by men, they frequently failed to campaign for or support fellow women seeking elective positions within their parties or communities.
The APC chairman’s wife said it was time women began sensitising their families, friends, and colleagues to changing the political narrative, ensuring female candidates were prioritised and given a level playing field.
“We must not only come out to work; we must come out to contest. We have to be deliberate about it,” Yilwatda stated, urging women to take proactive steps in political engagement and representation.
She further charged women to mentor younger aspirants, build solid political structures across states, and intensify participation from ward to polling unit levels ahead of the 2027 general election cycle.
Yilwatda noted that the WLN was expanding its presence nationwide, from state to local government and ward levels, to encourage more young women to contest elections and take leadership roles in governance.
She warned against gatekeeping attitudes among women leaders, stressing the importance of uplifting younger entrants and fostering an intergenerational political succession system across party lines.
“If we must move forward, the change must begin with us,” she declared, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had opened more doors for female inclusion than any previous government.
Mrs Yilwatda urged women to promote the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, acknowledging his administration’s significant strides in empowering women and improving citizens’ welfare across various sectors.
“I want you to support him in 2027 and back all party candidates from federal positions to ward councillorship levels,” she added, reaffirming her call for collective female solidarity in politics.
Dr Fauziya Buhari-Ado, the WLN National Coordinator, aligned with Mrs Yilwatda’s message, stating that Nigeria stood at a defining moment where women must refuse to remain on the margins of governance.
She emphasised that the WLN was not merely a platform for discussion but one devoted to tangible action, mobilisation, and shaping policy directions that affected women and youths nationwide.
Buhari-Ado highlighted that women had historically driven Nigeria’s economy through trade, agriculture, and markets but remained underrepresented in policymaking and governance structures across all levels.
“Our vision is clear: an inclusive Nigeria where women and youths are equitably represented in decision-making, empowered with capital, knowledge, and access to markets,” she stated confidently.
She added that the results achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda must be properly documented, publicised, and communicated directly to communities to strengthen grassroots awareness and participation.
According to her, elections are not won on election days but through consistent community engagement, long-term mobilisation, and building trust among the electorate across every local constituency.
“What we do today is not just about politics; it is about legacy. We must build a nation where women are not only beneficiaries but architects of Nigeria’s progress,” Buhari-Ado added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
