Imo Assembly Set to Back Bill for More Female Lawmakers

In a significant move to boost women's representation in politics, the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chike Olemgbe, has expressed the House's readiness to support a bill aimed at reserving additional seats for women in the state legislature. This assurance was given during an advocacy visit by the Imo State chapter of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria to the Assembly members. The proposed legislation seeks to create three more seats for women, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts, thereby increasing the number of lawmakers from 27 to 30. According to a former member of the Assembly, Uju Onwudiwe, this initiative is not about displacing men from elective offices but rather about creating a space for women to contribute to the state's development. Onwudiwe stressed that the campaign is focused on promoting women's participation in political decision-making and is part of a constitutional amendment aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women in legislative bodies. The Speaker also highlighted Governor Hope Uzodimma's support for the emergence of four female candidates of the All Progressives Congress, who may join the Assembly in the future. The National President of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, represented by Mrs Ogechi Ikeh, urged the Speaker and members of the House to support the proposed legislation, emphasizing the need to bring women with capacity, integrity, and competence into positions of power. The Reserved Seats for Women Bill, designed to improve women's representation in Nigeria's legislative bodies, is expected to receive favourable consideration from the Imo State House of Assembly.