Empowering women essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, says ADC

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reaffirmed its commitment to women’s inclusion in politics as Nigeria marks International Women’s Day, stating that women must move from the margins to the center of leadership and decision-making.
The party said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Sunday in Abuja.
The ADC noted that Nigerian women carry a disproportionate share of the nation’s social and economic responsibilities yet remain significantly underrepresented in many of our national institutions.
The coalition party said its National Working Committee reflects a deliberate effort to include women in leadership and stressed that empowering women is essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, adding that it is the only political party in Nigeria whose constitution explicitly reserves forty percent of all party positions to women.
The statement by Abdullahi reads, “As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) celebrates the millions of Nigerian women whose labour, courage, and leadership sustain our nation every day.
“From the mothers who raise our communities, to the entrepreneurs who power our markets, to the headmistresses and teachers who educate our children, to the doctors and nurses who heal us, and the professionals who keep our society running, Nigerian women continue to carry a disproportionate share of the nation’s burden.
“Yet when decisions about the future of our nation are made, women remain significantly underrepresented in positions of leadership.
“This is the Nigeria that the ADC wants to change.
“In the ADC, women are leaders. They are part of the structures that guide the party and shape its decisions.
“The composition of our National Working Committee reflects a deliberate commitment to ensuring that women are not pushed to the margins of politics, but are actively involved in leadership and decision-making.
“This is because we are the only political party in Nigeria whose constitution reserves 40 percent of all party positions at all levels to women.
“For the ADC, women are partners in nation-building.
Across Nigeria, women carry enormous responsibilities in their homes, communities, and workplaces.
“Any political movement that is serious about building a better country must recognize and harness this strength.
“To the ADC, women are indispensable to the future of Nigerian democracy.
“A nation of over two hundred million people cannot reach its full potential when half of its population remains underrepresented in political leadership.
“Nigeria’s democracy will only become stronger when its institutions reflect the strength, talent, and diversity of its people.
In this regard, on this 2026 commemoration International Women’s Day, when leaders and institutions are re-committing themselves to investing in women under the theme #GiveToGain, the African Democratic Congress reaffirms our commitment to building a political culture where women are empowered to lead and participate fully in shaping the future of our country.
“We therefore call on more Nigerian women across the country to join the ADC and help us to lead the effort to build a more inclusive nation. Because when Nigerian women rise, our entire nation rises with them”, it said.