A female aspirant for the Senate in Oyo South Senatorial District, Bolanle Sarunmi- Aliyu, has declared her ambition to contest under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), positioning herself as a strong advocate for increased women participation in Nigeria’s political leadership.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists, the aspirant expressed confidence in the unity and readiness of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that recent internal disputes have been resolved following the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She stressed that, the judgment effectively dismissed all pending cases linked to party factions, reaffirming what she described as a single, indivisible PDP moving forward.
Beyond party politics, the senatorial hopeful strongly emphasized the urgent need to address gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political system, describing the present level of female representation in the National Assembly as “deeply concerning,” noting that women occupy only a small fraction of the 109 Senate seats and a similarly low number in the House of Representatives.
To address this gap, she pledged to champion legislative reforms aimed at achieving the long advocated ,debated 35 percent affirmative participation of women in politics. She noted that ,this would include pushing for laws that compel political parties to field a minimum of 35 percent female candidates as a condition for participation in elections.
“If given the mandate, I will use my first term to drive policies that ensure women are no longer sidelined. Political parties must be held accountable to gender inclusion. Without this, our democracy remains incomplete,” she stated.
She also called on voters, particularly women and young people, to become more actively involved in the electoral process. She stressed that civic participation goes beyond casting votes, urging citizens to remain at polling units until results are declared to ensure transparency and accountability.
The aspirant further highlighted the importance of obtaining Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), warning that opportunities for registration and collection may not remain open indefinitely before the election period.
“Nigeria is a great country with enormous potential, but we must begin to elect credible leaders. Change will only happen when good people step forward and citizens support them through active participation,” she added.
Political observers note that her candidacy, if sustained, could contribute to growing calls for gender inclusion in Nigerian politics, especially in Oyo State, where female representation in elective positions remains limited.
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