Female politicians seeking elective positions in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections have received an encouraging but urgent message from Yiaga Africa: build stronger campaigns, win public support and protect every vote.
The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, gave the advice on Monday, November 9, 2026, during an interview with journalists in Abuja, where he expressed concern over the declining number of female candidates preparing to contest the 2027 general elections.
According to Itodo, women seeking political offices must move beyond simply securing party tickets and develop strategic campaigns capable of attracting voters and overcoming the challenges associated with Nigeria’s electoral process.
The advice comes against the backdrop of figures showing a further decline in women’s representation among nominated candidates. A September 2026 report by Dataphyte revealed that women accounted for 508 of the 5,094 candidates nominated for the 2023 general elections, representing 10 per cent.
However, the number has dropped to just 475 women among 4,899 candidates in the build-up to the 2027 elections, representing approximately 9.7 per cent.
Despite the decline, Itodo believes female candidates can still strengthen their chances by building grassroots support, focusing on issues that matter to voters and putting reliable mechanisms in place to protect their votes.
He particularly encouraged women to understand that Nigerian politics is largely driven by local connections and community support, making direct engagement with voters an important part of their campaigns.
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“The female candidates have to get the numbers behind them, focus more on issues, build a strong support base or watch their votes so that their votes will not be stolen,” he said.
Itodo also stressed that being a woman should never prevent a candidate from taking the necessary steps to secure electoral victory, warning that political opponents could exploit weaknesses in campaign and vote-protection strategies.
Beyond individual efforts, the Yiaga Africa executive director called on political parties to demonstrate genuine commitment to women’s participation by providing candidates with the necessary financial resources and institutional support.
He further emphasised the importance of credible elections, explaining that electoral manipulation could prevent qualified female candidates from emerging victorious, regardless of their popularity among voters.
His recommendations come at a critical moment for women’s political participation in Nigeria, as the declining figures raise fresh questions about equal opportunities in the country’s democratic process.
