The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that it would seek legislative support for changes in the Constitution and the Electoral Law to improve the representation of marginalized women and groups in Parliament before the next general elections.
The president of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced this on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the Collective Women’s Forum, led by Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo.
Yakubu said: “For elective representation, the commission believes that the most effective way to guarantee greater representation for women and other marginalized groups in the legislative assemblies is an affirmative action backed by a clear legal provision as was the case in many jurisdictions. This calls the amendment of the sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as loved) and the electoral law 2022.
“Consequently, the continuous review of the Constitution and the Electoral Law offers an opportunity to commit to our legislators for appropriate legislative action. Happily, the matter is back in the legislative agenda. In our retirement earlier this year with the members of the Joint Senate Committee and the House of Representatives in Electoral Affairs, we support the amendment that will guarantee a greater representation of women in elective positions.” “
Yakubu also pointed out the Internal Registration of INEC. “This means that 55% of the directors of the headquarters here in Abuja are women. In the states of the Federation, many of our substantive administrative secretaries, who are also directors, are women.”
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