The Women in Politics Forum (WiPF) has raised concerns over increasing cases of violence, intimidation and exclusion targeting female aspirants during ongoing political party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Executive Director of WiPF, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, accused political parties of undermining women’s participation through the misuse of the consensus candidate arrangement and other anti-democratic practices.
According to the Forum, many women joined the electoral process after receiving assurances from party leaders on greater inclusion and representation. Based on those promises, several women purchased nomination and expression of interest forms to contest elective positions across various political parties.
However, WiPF said the conduct of the ongoing primaries has revealed what it described as a disturbing pattern of exclusion, particularly through the manipulation of the consensus candidate process, which it noted has drastically reduced the number of women emerging as candidates.
The group specifically condemned the disqualification of Senator Ipalibo Banigo, describing the action as unjustifiable and capable of discouraging women from active political participation across the country.
WiPF further disclosed that it has recorded growing cases of intimidation against female aspirants, including pressure to withdraw from contests, refusal by party officials to sell nomination forms to women, online harassment and physical attacks.
The Forum also condemned the alleged assault on Senator Ireti Kingibe and another female aspirant at their party secretariat, describing the incident as an attack on democratic rights and the safety of women in politics.
It warned that such developments could further worsen the already low representation of women in governance in Nigeria, which it said currently stands at about four per cent — one of the lowest globally.
WiPF called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attack on Senator Kingibe and other affected female aspirants.
The organisation also urged political parties to strictly adhere to established electoral guidelines and stop using the consensus arrangement as a tool to sideline women from the democratic process.
In addition, the Forum demanded adequate security for female aspirants during party primaries and called for a review of what it described as the wrongful disqualification of Senator Banigo and other women excluded without valid justification.
Barrister Ifendu warned that Nigerian women would no longer remain silent in the face of political intimidation and exclusion, adding that WiPF would explore legal, civil society and international measures against individuals or institutions obstructing women’s participation in democracy.
