Women’s political participation and inclsuin for PWDs is not just a fundamental human right but also an essential prerequisite for achieving gender equality and fostering a genuine democracy.
People with disabilities face significant barriers to political participation, including physical, social, and institutional obstacles that limit their engagement in the democratic process. As a result, many individuals with disabilities choose not to participate in politics, feeling that the issues that matter to them are ignored or that they lack the power to influence decision-making processes. This exclusion diminishes their ability to advocate for policies that address their needs, such as access to healthcare, education, employment, and social services.
Similarly, women who represent nearly half of the population continue to face systemic barriers that prevent equal participation in politics. Gender-based power dynamics, entrenched in both cultural and institutional structures, often restrict women’s access to political power and decision-making roles. These challenges are compounded for women with disabilities, who face the dual disadvantages of gender and disability, making it even harder for them to engage tangentially in the political arena.
Under normal democratic principles, every citizen of voting age is entitled to participate in the political process. This includes both women and people with disabilities. Women’s political participation is not just a fundamental human right but also an essential prerequisite for achieving gender equality and fostering a genuine democracy. Without active involvement in the political process, issues of gender inequality, women’s empowerment, and the specific needs of people with disabilities will remain marginalised or neglected.
When women, particularly women with disabilities, are represented in political spaces, it has a profound impact on policy outcomes. It not only helps address the barriers that women face but also empowers other women and girls especially those with disabilities to take on leadership roles. Representation in political offices gives voice to those who are often excluded, providing them with the platform to advocate for inclusive policies that directly benefit their communities.
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Moreover, increasing the political participation of people with disabilities is integral to their broader empowerment. As long as their voices remain unheard in national policy debates, their rights to equity, access to health services, quality education, social inclusion, and livelihood opportunities will continue to be restricted. Ensuring that people with disabilities are included in the political decision-making process is critical to achieving lasting change.
The bill: A step toward political inclusion
Recognising the urgent need for inclusive political representation, the Nigerian National Assembly has taken a significant step forward by bringing up a bill aimed at amending Section 49 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). This bill seeks to create six additional seats in the House of Representatives, specifically reserved for women and persons living with disabilities. These seats will be distributed evenly across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring national representation for these often-overlooked groups.
Under this bill, aspirants for these special seats must meet the same qualifications as candidates for regular House of Representatives seats. However, they will be selected through an electoral college system, which will be composed of members from the National Associations of women and people with disabilities. This process is designed to ensure that the selected representatives are accountable to their constituencies and reflect the views of those they are meant to serve.
The amendment to Section 49 of the Constitution alters the phrasing from the original provision, which stated that the House of Representatives should consist of “three hundred-and sixty-members representing constituencies of nearly equal population,” to now include “three hundred and sixty-six members, with six members representing special interest groups.” This change ensures that women and people with disabilities will have a dedicated space in the legislative process, where their issues can be discussed, and policies tailored to their needs can be created.
The electoral process for special interest seats
To ensure transparency and fairness in selecting candidates for the special seats, the bill outlines a detailed electoral process. Aspirants will first go through a grassroots election within their respective states. Then, state candidates will be chosen through voting by the electoral college, which will be made up of national officers of the associations representing women and persons with disabilities within each geopolitical zone.
Each geopolitical zone will have a regional electoral college, consisting of the national officers from the states within that zone. This body will be responsible for finalising the list of representatives to fill the special seats. The selected individuals will serve the same term length as other members of the House of Representatives and will be entitled to the same benefits, ensuring they are not sidelined or treated as secondary members of the legislature.
It is important to note that this amendment applies only to the House of Representatives and does not extend to the Senate, which currently has no provisions for special interest representation. Nevertheless, the bill sets a precedent for future reforms and could pave the way for similar measures in other areas of governance.
