Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called for constitutional amendments to create reserved seats for women, saying their political representation does not reflect their population size and voting power in Nigeria. Speaking at the North-West zonal launch of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, the governor noted that women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population and a large portion of voters, yet occupy less than five percent of legislative positions at the national level.

He described the imbalance as a product of long-standing structural, cultural and economic barriers rather than a lack of competence. According to him, the North-West has historically recorded low female participation in politics due to deep-rooted social norms and limited access to political networks, but stressed that these challenges can change with deliberate policies and inclusive leadership.

Governor Uba Sani highlighted Kaduna State as an example of progress, pointing to the presence of a female Deputy Governor, women leading key ministries, a female Head of Service, and elected women at state and local government levels. He said these achievements show that women can win elections, lead effectively and earn public trust when given fair opportunities.

The governor explained that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, part of the ongoing constitutional review, proposes 182 additional seats for women across the National and State Assemblies without removing existing seats. He added that the bill is a temporary measure to run for four election cycles and aligns with global best practices, while APC National Women Leader, Dr Mary Alile Idele, said the bill would strengthen democracy and inspire young women to see leadership as their right.