INEC celebrates women on IWD, warns parties against gender-exclusive primaries ahead 2027 Elections

*Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, cautions political parties that the Commission will be scrutinising inclusivity of party primaries more rigorously than ever before ahead of next year’s General Elections in Nigeria

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As the 2027 General Elections draw near, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has warned political parties against any primary elections that sideline women.

The Commission emphasised that such a slanted practice would fail its regulatory test ahead of next year’s elections.

ConsumerConnect reports Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, Chairman of INEC, said this Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in his opening remarks on the occasion of the commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), held at the Commission’s Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT.

Amupitan said that symbolic concessions to women are no longer sufficient under the reviewed Electoral Act 2026, and the Commission’s new Regulations and Guidelines.

He stated in his address: “To the political parties, the Commission, which is your regulator and a custodian of our democratic integrity, believes it is no longer enough to offer free nomination forms to women while maintaining glass ceilings in your inner caucuses.”

Prof. Amupitan, who formally declared the celebration open, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to strengthening inclusivity within Nigeria’s electoral process as preparations continue for 2027.

He equally noted that INEC would be scrutinising the inclusivity of party primaries more rigorously than ever before.

The Chairman of the Commission further explained: “A primary that systematically excludes women is a primary that fails the test of our new regulatory standards. “There must be internal democracy that caters to women too.”

Amupitan said as preparations gradually intensify for the 2027 General Elections, political parties must demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusive leadership.

The Chairman stressed that democratic credibility is strengthened when all segments of society are given a fair opportunity to participate.

The INEC Chief expressed concern over the rising tide of gender-based disinformation and digital harassment targeted at female aspirants.

He, therefore, warned that the electoral space must not be weaponised against women.

He further noted: “As we head towards 2027, female candidates are disproportionately targeted by online harassment and fake news designed to suppress their ambition.

“The electoral space must be a sanctuary for ideas, not a battlefield of gender-targeted character assassination.”

According to him, gender inclusion at INEC is a deliberate institutional commitment rather than rhetoric.

He highlighted the growing presence of women in leadership positions within the Commission.

Prof. Amupitan also said at the national level, the Commission currently, has two female National Commissioners and a female Secretary to the Commission, who serves as the administrative head of the institution.

He equally disclosed that the state level, six Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and eight Administrative Secretaries are women providing leadership and oversight.

He explained the within the management cadre at Headquarters, in Abuja, 10 out of the 23 Directors, representing over 43 percent, are women.

In the field offices, 218 out of the 774 Electoral Officers across the country are female, stated he.

Commending women’s professionalism and dedication to national development, Amupitan noted: “These women, working alongside their male counterparts, are contributing in no small measure to the growth, efficiency and credibility of the Commission.”

Insight into electoral reforms at INEC

Referencing key institutional reforms undertaken by the Commission in recent times, Prof. Amupitan disclosed these included the establishment of a Gender and Inclusivity Department, April 2021, to strengthen gender mainstreaming across its operations.

Besides, the Chairman of INEC announced the appointment of Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar Talba as Special Adviser on Gender and Inclusivity to further drive the Commission’s agenda in that regard.

Earlier in his welcome address to the occasion, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu-Zuru, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee of INEC, described the theme of the celebration, “Give to Gain: Advancing Women Leadership for Inclusive Progress”, as a call to sustained action.

The Chairman asserted: “This is not merely ceremonial. It is a moment for reflection on our institutional journey and a recommitment to purposeful action.”

Women in the Commission, he noted, currently, serve as National Commissioners, Secretary to the Commission, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries and Directors.

Prof. Abdu-Zuru described women’s performance as a reflection of competence and equitable opportunity within the institution.

Similarly, in her presentation on INEC’s journey thus far, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, described the progress made in advancing women’s participation as steady, structured and policy-driven.

Dr. Oriaran-Anthony recalled earlier years when the Commission had only one female National Commissioner and no female Resident Electoral Commissioners.

She noted that perceptions about elections once limited women’s participation in field operations.

Oriaran-Anthony also stated: “But we have evolved tremendously. Our journey has been deliberate. We grew from the bottom up.”

She equally highlighted the Commission’s Gender Policy Framework as a cornerstone of its progress, explaining that gender desks have been established across all state offices while targeted training and leadership development initiatives have strengthened female staff capacity.

“As we gave opportunities to women, the Commission gained enhanced productivity and improved stakeholder trust.

“By giving, we gained,” she noted.

In attendance at the forum were National Commissioners, Women in Leadership positions in the Commission across the country, who joined virtually, senior officials, invited guests and staff of the Commission.

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