We Need Seats at the Table – Lagos Women Rally for Political Power

Lagos, Nigeria – Nigerian women made their voices heard loud and clear at a landmark town hall meeting held at the Eko FM Multipurpose Hall, demanding concrete political representation through reserved seats in the legislature. The event, organized by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), was a clarion call for constitutional reform and gender equity in governance.

At the heart of the event was the urgent message that Nigerian women are done being sidelined. “We are tired of being used as vote banks,” declared Hon. Irene Awunah Ikyegh, President of NILOWV. “Every election cycle, women especially the Iyaloja market women are mobilized to vote, only to be forgotten once the votes are counted. They use us to win, then shut us out of the rooms where decisions are made.”

Ikyegh called on women to rally behind one another at the polls. “When women run, women must vote for them. We can’t win if we don’t support each other,” she said. Her appeal extended to religious and community leaders: “Stand with us. This isn’t charity it’s justice.”

Representing Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas the Lagos APC women leader, Kenny Saint-Brown emphasized Lagos State’s historic leadership in promoting female political participation. “Lagos gave Nigeria its first female Deputy Governor, first female Senator, and first female Speaker. Just in the last election, 11 women ran for LGA Chairmanship positions!” She praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as a “true HeForShe ally,” but stressed that the goal is broader than female leadership: “This isn’t about leading women; it’s about leading everyone. Competence has no gender.”

Chief Imam Abdulganiu Olusipo also lent his voice to the cause, stating, “Real progress needs men holding the door open for women leaders. It’s not helping it’s smart for Nigeria.”

The event marked a turning point in the movement for gender inclusion in politics, uniting voices across sectors to push for systemic change. Nigerian women are no longer asking for seats at the table – they are demanding them.