By Justina Auta

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian women to play active roles in the 2027 general elections by mobilising, organising and strategically using their votes to influence political outcomes.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at the 30th anniversary conference of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV).

The theme of the conference was “Thirty Years Strong: Empowering Women’s Voice, Leadership and Democratic Participation; Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future.”

The minister described women’s votes as powerful instruments of democratic transformation, urging them to unite and participate meaningfully in governance.

“It is upon this foundational legacy that I assert today: at the very core of our thirty-year journey lies the most sacred currency of any democracy; the ballot of the Nigerian woman.

“A vote cast by a woman is never just a mark on paper; it is a quiet revolution, a solemn declaration of citizenship, and an instrument for generational upliftment,” she said.

She said mobilising 10 million women could create a strong force capable of influencing Nigeria’s political direction.

“To unlock this power fully, we must realign our mission with an unstoppable force: the collective resolve of 10 million women; one voice, one movement, one choice; intentionally and strategically negotiating the Nigeria of our dreams,” she said.

The minister urged NILOWV to take women’s political mobilisation to communities, emphasising that women must move beyond occupying policy spaces to activating their political influence at the grassroots.

“Do not merely sit at the table and wait for opportunities to reach you. Go into the trenches, into every market, every village square, every worship centre, and every polling unit to enlighten, organise and mobilise Nigerian women to own their political power,” she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs could not achieve its women’s inclusion agenda alone, emphasising the importance of partnerships with organisations such as NILOWV.

“With steadfast, courageous partners like NILOWV, there is no summit we cannot reach, and our nation will be transformed for generations to come,” she said.

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), said women remained critical contributors to Nigeria’s economy, agricultural value chains and community development.

He, however, identified limited access to economic resources, capital and financial structures, as well as patriarchy, cultural norms and educational disparities, as barriers to women’s advancement.

“As long as Nigerian women are excluded from decision-making, our democracy is not democracy. Our projected task is to convert advocacy into structural and legislative reality,” he said.

Sulaiman reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly and NILDS to supporting initiatives that promote gender inclusion, including the Special Seats Bill for Women.

“We will continue to collaborate with you to build capacity, train your members to eliminate systemic barriers and champion gender responsiveness, most notably the special seats bill to ensure an inclusive, equitable and sustainable governance framework,” he said.

Mrs Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, President of NILOWV, said women must change their strategy ahead of the 2027 elections by moving from being celebrated as a voting majority to becoming active participants in political decision-making.

“We must continue to demand practical measures to create opportunities for women to enter into decision spaces and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.

Awunah-Ikyegh said women’s numerical strength could translate into political power only when properly organised, informed and mobilised.

“The numbers alone do not generate political power. Numbers become power when they are organised, informed, mobilised and strategically deployed,” she said.

She encouraged women to adopt strategic voting patterns by engaging candidates and political parties on issues affecting them, including representation, gender-based violence, economic exclusion and unequal opportunities.

“Women’s votes are valuable, and our support must be earned through credible commitments and measurable actions,” she said.

The NILOWV president urged women to support female candidates in the 2027 elections, mentor young leaders and strengthen women’s networks.

“In 2027, we must not mainly campaign for others. We must prepare and properly declare our support to female candidates.

“We must support women seeking electoral offices, mentor the younger leaders and strengthen our women network,” she said.

Earlier, Mrs Esther Uduehi, Founder and Board of Trustees Chairperson of NILOWV, said the organisation’s anniversary was a reminder that more work remained to achieve equal opportunities for women.

“An anniversary is not the finish line. The existence of policies does not guarantee implementation. The right to vote does not guarantee the opportunity to be elected.

“Our next chapter must be about results: more women in decision-making, stronger economic opportunities, safer communities, educated girls, adequately funded institutions and a political system that is fairer to women,” she said.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru