15/07/2026
At the National Assembly Open Week 2026 in Abuja, I had the privilege of speaking on a theme that lies at the very heart of our national progress: ‘Three Years of the 10th Assembly: Advancing Transparency, Inclusion, and Reform.’
During my address, I called for bold, intentional constitutional reforms to significantly increase women’s representation in governance. A true democracy cannot thrive when a vast portion of our nation's human capital is left on the sidelines.
This is why I champion the landmark Special Seats Bill—a crucial reform designed to create 12 additional Senate seats, 37 seats in the House of Representatives, and 108 seats across State Houses of Assembly specifically for women, alongside dedicated representation for persons with disabilities.
I also lent my support to the proposed Electoral College Model, emphasizing that for this system to succeed, its implementation must be rigidly rooted in transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity for all.
Here in Rivers State, under the visionary leadership of Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, we are already leading by example. From the Office of the Deputy Governor to our representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives, and across our judiciary, including our Chief Judges, Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and female Vice Chairpersons in all 23 LGAs, Rivers women are actively shaping policy and driving development.
Expanding women’s representation is not about granting special privileges. It is about harnessing Nigeria’s full capacity to build a more transparent, accountable, and responsive nation.
Let us work together to build a Nigeria where every voice truly counts.”
