Hon. Amobi Ogah joins other lawmakers on a Kenya study tour to explore Women’s quotas. Learn why this matters for Nigeria’s Special Seats Bill. Read more.
Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, has joined a delegation of 14 lawmakers and legal experts on a pivotal study tour to Kenya, aimed at understanding how Temporary Special Measures (TSMs) have improved women’s representation in the Kenyan legislature.
Why Kenya: A Model Worth Following
Kenya’s 2010 Constitution introduced a landmark gender quota—Article 27(8)—ensuring at least 47 reserved seats for women in its National Assembly, driving women’s representation to 23% in the Assembly and 31% in the Senate by 2022
In comparison, Nigeria lags with only 19 female lawmakers in its National Assembly and about 55 women in state assemblies—a stark contrast that places Nigeria near the bottom of global rankings .
By visiting the Parliament of Kenya, meeting with the National Gender & Equality Commission, the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), and civil society stakeholders, the Nigeria delegation seeks to draw lessons on implementing special seats and affirmative action in the local context.
Who’s On Board
The delegation includes:
Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, House Majority Leader (Team Leader)
Sen. Osita Izunaso, Chair, Senate Committee on Capital Markets
Hon. Fatima Talba, Chair, House Committee on Women in Parliament
Hon. Rotimi O. Akintunde, House Spokesperson
Hon. Amobi G. Ogah, Chair, House Committee on HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria Control
Hon. Kabiru Amadu Mai Palace, Hon. Ajiya Abdulrahman, plus legal and PLAC delegation members
PLAC and the European Union are sponsoring the visit from June 22–27, 2025.
What’s at Stake
Participants aim to:
Understand Kenya’s legal architecture enabling TSMs
Facilitate peer learning with Kenyan lawmakers and gender advocacy bodies
Build momentum for Nigeria’s Special Seats Bill, which proposes adding 74 women-only seats at the National Assembly and 108 seats at state levels
The expected outcome is to spark political will and knowledge within Nigeria’s Constitution Review Committees, increasing chances of adopting gender quotas locally.
Tour Itinerary Highlights
June 23: Courtesy meeting with Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Parliament tour
June 24–26: Sessions with KEWOPA, National Cohesion Committee, NGEC, ministry officials, Federation of Women Lawyers, and civil society actors.
June 27: Delegation departs Kenya after a final debrief
Why It Matters
Nigeria’s stalled Special Seats Bill—seeking reserved seats for women—has faced political inertia. This tour bridges knowledge gaps, offering legislators like Hon. Ogah practical tools to reignite constitutional reform and gender parity in governance.
With representation still below 10% at the sub-national level, Nigeria risks lagging even further behind regional peers unless bold measures are taken.
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