‎BY AHMED AKANBI

‎The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has declared that Nigeria’s democracy and development would remain incomplete until women are fully brought into politics and governance.

‎The party made the declaration on Sunday at its National Women’s Summit held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

‎Themed “Advancing Women’s Inclusion in Politics and Governance,” the summit gathered women leaders, political stakeholders, civil society organisations and gender advocates from across the country.

‎APGA National Leader and Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, was represented by his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim.

‎In his goodwill message, Ibezim said excluding women from leadership is self-sabotage.

‎”Attempting to exclude women from politics and governance is akin to trying to clap with just one hand. For our democracy and development to be complete, women must be at the centre of decision-making,” he said.

‎Declaring the summit open, APGA National Chairman, Chief Sly Ezeokenwa, said the event was not just about the party but about the future of Nigeria.

‎”This summit is not about APGA alone. It is about Nigeria. When women are excluded from the table, policies become incomplete. Advancing women’s inclusion is not a favour to women; it is an investment in better governance for all Nigerians,” Ezeokenwa said.

‎According to a statement by APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, participants called for the dismantling of cultural, financial and structural barriers that keep women out of elective and appointive offices.

‎The summit resolved that political parties must prioritize women candidates and that government should enforce affirmative action to guarantee women meaningful representation in governance.

‎Ezeokenwa said APGA will lead by example by increasing women’s presence in party structures and on its election tickets ahead of 2027.

‎”When you invest in women, you invest in better schools, better healthcare, better security and better governance. That is the Nigeria we are working to build,” he added.