The campaign for greater female political representation in Nigeria gained fresh momentum in Abuja as Dr. Amina Zanna Ibrahim called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to reserve the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Senatorial ticket exclusively for women.
Presenting her manifesto before the party’s National Working Committee, Dr. Ibrahim argued that Nigeria’s severe gender imbalance in the Senate can only be corrected through deliberate affirmative action and intentional political inclusion.
“A man cannot be a voice to women. Let a woman represent the women,” she declared while appealing to party leaders to make history in the FCT. According to her, women and youths remain underrepresented in governance despite their numerical strength and contributions to national development.
Dr. Ibrahim, currently the only female APC aspirant for the FCT Senate seat, said her campaign is rooted in the belief that female representation is not symbolic, but essential for effective policymaking on issues affecting women and families.
Responding to concerns about competing against established male political figures, including former Senator Philip Aduda, she dismissed suggestions that she was an underdog, citing her three decades of residency in the FCT and her professional experience as evidence of her readiness to serve.
“I have lived in Abuja for over 30 years. I understand the people, their challenges, and what they expect from leadership,” she said.
Her call received strong backing from Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, who described the current number of female senators in Nigeria as alarmingly low.
“We have just four women out of 109 senators. Out of those four, one is not even stable, so sometimes I say it is three and a half,” she remarked, warning that women in the National Assembly are becoming “almost extinct.”
Hajiya Zainab argued that the FCT, as Nigeria’s political capital and a cosmopolitan territory, provides the ideal platform for the APC to demonstrate commitment to gender inclusion and democratic balance.
In a candid declaration, the APC Deputy National Women Leader openly admitted she was “biased” in favor of female aspirants, insisting that supporting women in politics is bigger than individual ambition.
“It’s not for you, it’s not for me—it’s for the gender,” she stated.
“Once I have a woman contesting, I go all out.”
Party insiders believe the APC’s recent electoral gains across the FCT Area Councils could strengthen the chances of a consensus female candidacy if party stakeholders unite behind Dr. Ibrahim’s aspiration.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ibrahim has intensified grassroots consultations across wards and Area Councils, mobilizing women and youth groups ahead of the 2026 elections in what observers describe as a growing movement for inclusive representation in the nation’s capital.
