In a landmark initiative aimed at supporting women’s leadership in Nigeria's political landscape, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has taken a significant step forward by supporting the formation of the National Women Leaders Forum (NWLF) of Political Parties. This effort is part of the ongoing Nigeria Open Political Party (NOPP) project, which seeks to foster greater inclusivity, participation and representation of women and other underrepresented groups. 

A virtual meeting, held on Monday 10 June 2024, marked the first-ever gathering of national women leaders  of Nigeria's nineteen registered political parties. This historic assembly saw the leaders come together to strategise against the backdrop of the disappointing outcomes of the 2023 general elections, where women's representation fell to an all-time low. The representation of women in the National Assembly of Nigeria in the 10th Assembly is 3.62% of a 109 Senate seats and 360 House of Representatives seats, one of the global lowest.

A unified voice for women's inclusion and representation

The discussions during the meeting centered around the outcome of the 2023 elections, particularly the significant reduction in the numbers of women elected to various levels of government. This troubling trend underscored the urgency for concerted action to ensure that the 2027 elections do not replicate this outcome. Participants recognised the systemic nature of women's exclusion across all political parties and resolved to forge a unified front to combat this issue.

The attendees agreed to transform their loosely organised WhatsApp group into a formalised forum of women leaders. This strategic move aims to enhance coordination and amplify their voices, demands, and actions within the political arena. By consolidating their efforts, the women leaders seek to create a powerful platform that resonates across Nigeria's political landscape. With supports from WFD, the national women leaders of the political parties, working together on July 3 and 4, successfully formed the National Women Leaders Forum (NWLF), and drafted a rules and operational guidelines, as well as an action plan to guide their strategic engagement.

WFD's role in supporting women leaders

The forum's formation was not only a testament to the women leaders' resolve for inclusion of women, but also highlighted their call for WFD's continued support. The women leaders requested that WFD leverage its extensive technical expertise to support the formation of the Forum. Previously, WFD facilitated the development of a strategic plan and an action plan for the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the National Youth Leaders of Political Parties in Nigeria. Also, a rules and operational guideline and an action plan were drafted for the Young Parliamentarian Forum (YPF) of the National Assembly, which enabled their sustainability from the 8th to the 10th Assembly.

WFD's support was envisioned to be instrumental in shaping the forum's structure and operational strategies. This has been validated at a technical working meeting on 3 and 4 July 2024. Next steps are to finalise, validate, and publicly present the documents, as well as monitor the implementation process. 

A pledge for a more inclusive future

The inception of the National Women Leaders Forum of Political Parties marks a significant stride towards fostering gender inclusivity in Nigeria's political sphere. By uniting under this new banner, women leaders across party lines are not only pledging to support each other but also sending a powerful message about the critical importance of women’s organising and voices in shaping the nation's political future.

As Nigeria moves towards constitutional and electoral reforms as well as the 2027 elections, the formation of this forum underscores a collective commitment to ensuring that women's participation is not merely symbolic but substantive and impactful. With WFD's continued support, these women leaders are poised to drive significant progress in achieving gender parity in politics.

As the women leaders embark on this journey, they set the stage for a new era of political engagement where the voices of women are not just heard but lead the way towards a more equitable future.