Godswill Akpabio
The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) has strongly condemned what it describes as entrenched gender discrimination in the Nigerian Senate, calling for the immediate resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his alleged mistreatment of female lawmakers.
In a statement, NILOWV decried the silencing of women in the upper legislative chamber, particularly the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she was allegedly shut down and forcibly removed from the Senate floor.
The group also pointed to past incidents involving Senator Ireti Kingibe, arguing that Akpabio has consistently displayed bias against the few female voices in the legislature.
With only four women among 109 senators, NILOWV stressed that instead of creating an enabling environment for their participation, the Senate under Akpabio’s leadership has marginalized and undermined them.
“This is beyond an attack on Senator Uduaghan—it is a systemic assault on women’s voices in governance,” NILOWV stated. “The National Assembly is meant to be a beacon of democracy, but under Akpabio’s leadership, it has become a space where women are stifled.”
The group warned that Akpabio’s leadership poses a serious threat to gender inclusivity in Nigerian politics.
They expressed fears over his ability to fairly preside over discussions on policies such as the Special Seats Bill, designed to improve female representation in governance.
“This Senate has no single woman in leadership, and its President has shown no commitment to changing that,” NILOWV said. “If he cannot respect and support the women already in the Senate, how can we trust him to champion women’s inclusion in politics?”
The organization called on women’s groups, civil society organizations, and Nigerians at large to demand Akpabio’s resignation and push for systemic reforms that ensure better representation and protection for women in government.
“The continued exclusion and mistreatment of women in politics weakens our democracy,” NILOWV concluded. “We must rise together to demand fairness, equality, and leadership that respects the voices of all Nigerians, regardless of gender.”
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