Jane Salihu
The Women in Politics Forum (WiPF) has condemned what it described as rising violence, intimidation and systematic exclusion of women aspirants in the ongoing party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning political parties against abusing the consensus candidate process to sideline female contenders.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Executive Director, Ebere Ifendu, the group said the current primary elections across political parties have exposed a disturbing pattern of attacks and discriminatory practices targeting women seeking elective offices.
According to WiPF, many women joined the electoral race after party leaders assured them of greater inclusion following sustained advocacy campaigns. The forum noted that several women purchased nomination and expression of interest forms in good faith, investing their resources and political capital based on those assurances.
However, the group alleged that the ongoing primaries have instead witnessed widespread abuse of the consensus candidate arrangement, which it said has significantly reduced the chances of women emerging as party candidates.
WiPF particularly faulted the disqualification of Senator Ipalibo Banigo, describing the action as frivolous and capable of discouraging women from participating in politics.
The forum further claimed that it had documented increasing cases of violence and intimidation against female aspirants, including pressure to withdraw from races, refusal by party officials to sell nomination forms to women, online harassment and physical attacks.
It cited the recent assault on Senator Ireti Kingibe and another female aspirant within their party secretariat, describing the incident as a direct attack on women’s democratic rights and safety.
WiPF expressed concern that the trend could worsen the already poor representation of women in governance, which it said currently stands at about four per cent, among the lowest globally.
The group called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attack on Kingibe and other female aspirants.
It also urged political parties to strictly adhere to due process in their nomination exercises and stop using the consensus arrangement as a tool to exclude women from contesting.
The forum further demanded proactive deployment of security agencies to protect women participating in party primaries across the country, while calling for a review of the disqualification of Banigo and other female aspirants allegedly denied fair participation.
“If Nigerian women continue to face this level of political impunity and exclusion, WiPF will mobilise all available legal, civil society and international mechanisms to hold accountable those undermining women’s participation in democracy,” the statement added.
