A House of Representatives aspirant for Bende Federal Constituency, Tracy Mcwary, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to grant a full waiver of nomination fees for female aspirants, warning that the current cost structure is effectively shutting women out of the political process.
Speaking on behalf of women within the party, Mcwary expressed concern over what she described as the “systematic exclusion” of women, particularly due to the high cost of nomination forms for elective positions.
She noted that the fees, reportedly about ₦100 million for Senate seats and ₦70 million for the House of Representatives, are beyond the reach of most women, especially amid prevailing economic challenges.
According to her, this financial barrier continues to limit female participation, pointing out that Nigeria currently has only four female senators and a small number of women in the lower chamber.
Mcwary recalled that the APC had previously demonstrated commitment to gender inclusion by offering free nomination forms to women ahead of the 2023 general elections.
However, she lamented that the policy was neither sustained nor institutionalized, thereby creating uncertainty and renewed obstacles for female aspirants.
She further argued that the party’s stance contradicts its support for global frameworks such as the Beijing Declaration, which advocates increased participation of women in governance and leadership.
“We cannot continue to preach inclusion and practice exclusion,” Mcwary said, adding that women are being encouraged to participate in politics but are effectively priced out of the process.
Highlighting the contributions of women in leadership, she cited Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as an example of the impact women can make when given the opportunity.
She questioned the rationale behind what she described as making political participation “a costly venture instead of a democratic endeavor,” stressing that Nigeria has no shortage of competent women capable of holding public office.
Mcwary therefore urged the president and APC leadership to take concrete steps to address the imbalance, including granting free nomination forms for women, providing meaningful support beyond rhetoric, and implementing deliberate policies that promote inclusion.
She warned that failure to act could further reduce female representation in governance, particularly in the 11th National Assembly.
“This is not just an appeal; it is a call for fairness and justice,” she said.
Mcwary also called on women across political parties to unite and advocate for equal participation, insisting that strengthening women’s voices in politics is essential for deepening democracy.
“When women rise, democracy is strengthened. When women are excluded, democracy is weakened,” she added, emphasizing that the time for action is now.
