The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar, has reaffirmed his support for greater inclusion of women in governance, endorsing efforts to increase female representation in elective offices.
The Speaker gave the assurance during a meeting with the leadership of the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigerian League of Women Voters as part of the group’s advocacy for the creation of special legislative seats for women at the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed, said the Speaker was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Comfort Egwaba.
Earlier, the State Chairperson of the Nigerian League of Women Voters, Aisha Isa, presented a proposal for an electoral college system to fill the proposed special seats for women.
Under the arrangement, political parties would nominate female candidates, while an electoral college comprising elected local government officials and lawmakers at state and national levels would elect successful candidates in polls to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
She explained that the proposed seats would complement existing legislative positions without preventing women from contesting regular elections, noting that the initiative is aimed at addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in politics.
The group also called for increased investment in girl-child education and intensified efforts to end child molestation and early marriage, stressing that empowering girls through education remains critical to achieving inclusive national development.
Members of the delegation urged women to remain united in advancing political participation and expressed optimism that sustained advocacy would lead to greater representation of women in governance.
