Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed strong confidence that state legislatures across the country will support and secure the necessary two-thirds concurrence for the ongoing constitutional amendment bills aimed at expanding political representation for women.
Speaking during the 2026 Law Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter, Bamidele disclosed that the legislative reform package involves creating additional federal seats alongside the introduction of dedicated positions at the subnational level, ensuring that extra slots will also be established within every State House of Assembly.
“The proposal, as it stands, is meticulous in its design. It seeks to add 37 seats in the Senate and 37 seats in the House of Representatives. This suggests that if finally approved, each state of the federation, including FCT, will have one additional seat in each of the Houses of the National Assembly.”
The comprehensive constitutional review initiative currently being advanced by the National Assembly features a proposal to introduce 74 additional federal seats, split evenly between the Senate and the House of Representatives. Under the framework, each state of the federation—along with the Federal Capital Territory—would gain one additional seat in each chamber exclusively reserved for women.
Furthermore, the proposal outlines the creation of three dedicated seats for women in every State House of Assembly. Designed with a sunset clause spanning a 16-year period or four electoral cycles before a statutory review, these special positions are structured to be integrated without displacing any existing electoral constituencies.
Lawmakers emphasize that the reform represents a deliberate, consensus-driven strategy to eliminate historical barriers and foster a more balanced, inclusive political culture in Nigeria’s governance architecture.
