UN Women launches #VoteHer2027 campaign to curb gender bias in Nigeria’s 2027 elections

UN Women Nigeria announced a new campaign on Wednesday aimed at reducing gender bias in the country’s upcoming 2027 general elections. Under the name #VoteHer2027, the campaign urges the electorate to assess contenders by their skills, honesty, background and policy ideas instead of their sex. The campaign was launched in Abuja and is accompanied by a radio drama and expert call‑in programme titled “NO BE BY GENDER” on the Radio Nigeria Network.

According to UN Women, women constitute only 9.7 percent of the total candidates contesting the 2027 elections, a figure that underscores the persistent under‑representation of women in Nigerian politics. The organisation warned that even if every female candidate were elected, women’s overall representation would remain far below parity with their roughly half‑share of the population.

Background

According to UN Women, Nigeria is bound by multiple global agreements, such as CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol and the Beijing Platform for Action, which all mandate equal female involvement in governance. The UN body also referenced Nigeria’s own National Gender Policy, which sets affirmative‑action targets for women’s representation ranging from 30 to 50 percent in elected offices. Despite these commitments, the latest candidate data shows a stark gap between policy goals and actual participation.

The #VoteHer2027 campaign seeks to address cultural stereotypes and socio‑economic barriers that deter support for women leaders. Through the “NO BE BY GENDER” radio drama, listeners will encounter storylines that expose myths about women in leadership, while expert callers discuss how to assess candidates on merit. UN Women intends to collaborate with media organizations, gender champions and social media influencers to counter biased narratives and ensure fairer reporting on women running for office.

Why it matters

The low proportion of female candidates has implications for democratic representation and policy outcomes. UN Women argued that decisions made by elected officials affect both men and women, and that excluding women from the political arena undermines fairness, equal rights and social justice. The organisation cautioned that allowing gender prejudice to influence voting could deepen Nigeria’s gender imbalance in governance and weaken the country’s commitment to equality.

Stakeholders called upon political and traditional leaders, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens to support unbiased voting. By encouraging voters to focus on candidates’ records and plans, the campaign aims to improve the quality of representation and ensure that women have a fair chance to shape laws, policies and priorities that affect their lives and communities.

What happens next

UN Women indicated that the #VoteHer2027 campaign will continue its outreach through radio, social media and partnerships with media organisations in the lead‑up to the 2027 elections. The “NO BE BY GENDER” programme will be broadcast on the Radio Nigeria Network, and the UN body will engage further with media partners to expand the campaign’s reach. No specific dates for additional activities were provided, but the organisation affirmed its commitment to monitoring the election process and promoting gender‑balanced participation.