A Call for Greater Female Representation in Nigerian Politics
The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Esther Nkem, has affirmed that women are fully capable of governing Nigeria, urging the country to embrace greater female inclusion in political leadership.
She made the call in Abuja on Monday at the signing of the party’s Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment policy, an initiative organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
Challenging the Doubts
Addressing the persistent scepticism that surrounds female ambition in Nigerian politics, Nkem acknowledged that she often encounters doubt from those who question whether a woman can lead the country. She noted that many insist a woman can never rule Nigeria or take on its most demanding responsibilities, but she rejected that assumption outright, insisting that women can indeed rise to the task.
The candidate commended the NRM for championing women’s participation in politics, describing the initiative as one that would encourage more women to pursue elective office rather than being confined to campaigning and voting for male candidates. She said the party was changing the narrative by creating real opportunities for women to take an active part in the political process, moving beyond the traditional expectation that women merely support men’s ambitions.
Reflecting on her own journey, Nkem described her decision to join the NRM as a turning point in her political career, saying the party’s support for women’s inclusion had strengthened her confidence considerably.
A Policy to Protect Women in Politics
The programme officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Malliya Manu, explained that the policy was designed to increase women’s participation in political leadership by providing a safe environment for them within political parties. She said the document, developed over roughly two months in collaboration with the NRM, would establish clear channels through which women could report cases of sexual harassment and exploitation.
Manu described the NRM as a notably gender-friendly party, which is why it was selected for the pilot phase of the sexual harassment policy. In her view, the framework will help women feel safe within the party and confident that formal complaint mechanisms exist should they experience harassment or exploitation.
Party Leadership Defends Its Record
The National Chairman of the NRM, Prince Chinedu Obi, said the party adopted the policy as part of its efforts to promote inclusion and good governance in its internal processes. He recalled challenging civil society organisations to assess the party’s commitment to inclusion when he assumed office, noting that the Nigerian Women Trust Fund was among the first to engage the party on the issue.
Obi pointed to the party’s track record, noting that women occupy leadership positions across its structures, including four female state chairpersons and a woman serving as national organising secretary. He explained that the party’s choice of a female presidential candidate followed a competitive primary election in which she emerged ahead of other contestants, and that the outcome reflected the party’s internal process rather than a symbolic gesture toward women.
He identified sexual harassment as one of the key factors discouraging women from participating in politics, stressing the need for safeguards that protect them. In his words, creating a level playing field means a woman can approach the party confident that nobody will exploit or harass her in ways that discourage her participation.
Obi described the signing as an opportunity for the party to demonstrate its commitment to the policy, adding that the NRM is willing to work with other organisations to advance political inclusion.
Why It Matters
The event underscores a growing push to address the barriers that keep Nigerian women out of elective office. By pairing a public commitment to gender inclusion with a formal mechanism for reporting abuse, the NRM and its partners are signalling that women’s political participation must be protected, not merely encouraged. For Nkem, the message is simple: the doubts directed at women in leadership are not a verdict, and the party’s reforms are intended to ensure that more women step forward to contest, lead and govern.
