The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening women’s leadership and promoting inclusivity within Nigeria’s electoral governance system.
The event, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, was themed “Give to Gain: Advancing Women Leadership for Inclusive Progress,” and highlighted the need to empower women to occupy more leadership and decision-making positions within the electoral body.
Chairman of the Organising Planning Committee (OPC), Abdu Zuru, described the celebration as both a moment of reflection and a call to action for institutions to evaluate their progress in promoting gender inclusion.
According to him, the theme underscores the belief that institutions grow stronger when opportunities are extended to all members of society.
“International Women’s Day is not merely ceremonial. It invites institutions like ours to pause, reflect on progress made and recommit to purposeful action. When we give opportunities, we gain collectively and humanity prospers,” Zuru said.
He noted that the Commission used the occasion to recognise women who have risen to leadership positions across various departments, units and divisions, including National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries and Directors.
Zuru described the honourees as women who have distinguished themselves in service and paved the way for others to rise.
“This clearly reflects our resolve to build a Commission where leadership is determined by competence, integrity and equitable opportunity,” he added.
In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Joash O. Amupitan, said the celebration provided an opportunity to assess progress in advancing women’s participation in leadership while acknowledging that more work still needs to be done.
He emphasised that inclusive leadership strengthens institutions and contributes to balanced policies and sustainable democratic outcomes.
“For us at INEC, gender inclusion is not mere rhetoric; it is a deliberate commitment. Credibility, trust and legitimacy in democratic governance are strengthened when all segments of society, including women, are adequately represented,” Amupitan said.
He disclosed that the Commission currently has two female National Commissioners and a female Secretary to the Commission. At the state level, six women serve as Resident Electoral Commissioners, while eight are Administrative Secretaries.
According to him, 10 out of the Commission’s 23 Directors are women, representing over 43 per cent of the directorate cadre, while 218 out of the 774 Electoral Officers nationwide are women.
Amupitan also highlighted institutional reforms aimed at strengthening gender inclusion, including the establishment of a Gender and Inclusivity Department in 2021 and the appointment of Hadiza Abubakar Talba as Special Assistant on Gender and Inclusivity.
However, he raised concerns about the rising trend of gender-based disinformation and digital harassment targeting female political aspirants ahead of future elections.
“As we approach the 2027 electoral cycle, female candidates are increasingly subjected to online harassment and fake news aimed at discouraging their political ambitions. The electoral space must be a sanctuary for ideas, not a battlefield of gender-targeted attacks,” he warned.
He also urged political parties to uphold genuine internal democracy and inclusivity during their primaries, noting that the Commission would intensify scrutiny of party processes to ensure women are not sidelined.
Presenting a paper titled “The Journey So Far,” the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriarian-Anthony, highlighted the progress made toward achieving the 35 per cent affirmative action target for women within the Commission.
She said the progress was driven by deliberate policies such as gender mainstreaming, inclusive recruitment practices, leadership development programmes and institutional reforms.
Oriarian-Anthony noted that women now occupy key leadership positions within the Commission, including National Commissioners, Directors, Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries.
“It is not a coincidence that the longest-serving National Commissioner is a woman and that the last two successive Secretaries to the Commission are women,” she said.
She further disclosed that 10 out of the 23 departments at INEC headquarters are headed by women, while 15 women currently serve as Administrative Secretaries across states, representing about 41 per cent.
Despite the progress recorded, she stressed that more efforts are needed to achieve the 35 per cent affirmative action target nationwide.
“The theme ‘Give to Gain’ perfectly captures our experience. By giving women opportunities, visibility and institutional support, INEC has gained enhanced productivity, improved stakeholder trust and stronger governance structures,” she added.
In her vote of thanks, the Director of the Gender and Inclusivity Department, Dorathy Bello, commended the Commission’s leadership and staff for their continued commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusive governance.
