Isiyaku Ahmed
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Nigeria has launched the #VoteHer2027 campaign, urging Nigerians to reject gender bias and assess candidates on their qualifications, integrity, experience and policy proposals ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It said women account for only 9.7 per cent of candidates in the 2027 elections, warning that their representation in elected offices would remain significantly below equal participation even if all female candidates emerged victorious.
UN Women noted that the figures highlighted the persistent disparity between women’s population share and their representation in Nigeria’s political leadership, despite women constituting nearly half of the country’s population.
In a statement, UN Women Nigeria said women’s political representation was not merely a political issue but a matter of fairness, equal rights and social justice.
It stressed that decisions taken by elected officials affect everyone, making it necessary for women to have equal opportunities to participate in shaping the laws, policies and priorities that govern their lives and communities.
The organisation clarified that women should not be elected simply because of their gender, just as they should not be rejected on the same basis.
UN Women said voters should instead evaluate candidates based on their competence, integrity, experience and capacity to deliver on their promises, irrespective of whether they are men or women.
It also recalled Nigeria’s commitments to promoting women’s political participation through international and national frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol and the Beijing Platform for Action.
It added that Nigeria’s National Gender Policy reinforces these commitments through affirmative action provisions and representation targets ranging from 30 to 50 per cent.
As part of the campaign, the organisation will introduce “NO BE BY GENDER,” an issue-based radio drama and expert call-in programme on Radio Nigeria Network.
The program will use relatable stories and discussions with experts and gender advocates to examine stereotypes, misconceptions and socio-cultural barriers that discourage public support for women in leadership positions.
It will also encourage listeners to challenge discriminatory assumptions and assess political candidates based on their ideas, track records and ability to serve.
The campaign will further leverage social media and partnerships with UN Women’s media partners to promote public discussions on women’s political participation, challenge discriminatory narratives and encourage balanced media coverage of female candidates.
UN Women Nigeria warned that failure to improve women’s representation in the 2027 elections could further widen the gender gap in governance and raise concerns about the country’s commitment to equality and democratic representation.
With women accounting for just 9.7 per cent of candidates, the organisation said Nigeria could not afford to compound their political underrepresentation with gender prejudice at the ballot box.
It therefore called on political and traditional leaders, civil society organisations, influencers, the media and members of the public to intensify advocacy for unbiased voting ahead of the elections.
The organisation urged the media to challenge gender stereotypes and provide women candidates with fair coverage, while calling on community leaders and influencers to confront discriminatory attitudes.
UN Women also encouraged voters to look beyond gender and make their electoral decisions based on candidates’ qualifications, records, integrity and policy commitments.
