By Dorcas Achi 

HRH Eze Uche Austin Possible, Traditional Ruler of Umuonyeche Autonomous Community and Chairman, Owerri Municipal Council of Traditional Rulers, has reiterated his unwavering dedication to promoting the interests of credible women in politics and other fields, characterizing the Special Seat Bill as both timely and indispensable. 

He expressed gratitude to SIDEC for soliciting his input as a key stakeholder on the reserved seat bill, during an advocacy visit to his palace on March 17, 2026, where he pledged his steadfast support for their PROJECT IMPACT initiative, which focuses on mobilization, participation, advocacy, and transformative interventions in the lives of women, children, and vulnerable groups.

Mrs. Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, Executive Director of SIDEC, averred that the reintroduction of the reserved seat bill was aimed at fostering inclusivity in governance, which would, in turn, catalyze enhanced development and precipitate a more enlightened society.

She stated that the bill aims to establish a framework for equitable representation, entailing reserved seats for women in the Senate (one per state), the House of Representatives, and approximately three reserved seats in each House of Assembly. Notably, this provision would not preclude women from contesting other positions alongside men at all levels of governance.

Whilst acknowledging the presence of women in appointive positions, she emphasized the imperative of achieving commensurate parity in elective offices, deeming it untenable that the House of Representatives comprises only 16 female federal lawmakers out of 360 members, the Senate has a mere 4 female senators out of 108, and a paltry 55 female state lawmakers out of approximately 991 House of Assembly members nationwide.

Ehiahuruike humbly implored the monarch to mobilize stakeholders, particularly legislators, to lend their support to the bill upon its presentation to the National Assembly, underscoring the necessity of securing a two-thirds majority vote to ensure its enactment.

Eze Possible responded, affirming that the era of undervaluing women is over, acknowledging that women have consistently demonstrated their leadership prowess and effectively discharged their responsibilities. "When entrusted with an opportunity, a woman can yield exponential benefits," he remarked. 

The monarch disclosed that, exemplifying his commitment, he has appointed two women to his cabinet and intends to appoint more women to enhance representation, fostering inclusivity and creating an enabling environment to cultivate a sense of belonging among women in community endeavors.

As a proponent of women's empowerment and a dedicated gender activist, he recounted his instrumental role in facilitating the enactment of the VAPP law, which has afforded women significant protections, safeguarding their rights to personal dignity, property inheritance, and ownership, among others. He pledged to steadfastly advocate for the reserved seat bill until its realization.

Eze Possible urged women to demonstrate their capabilities and establish their credibility, affirming his steadfast support for women who embody strength, integrity, passion, and a zeal for effecting positive change. "Women constitute a numerical majority; their exclusion from positions of authority breeds disenfranchisement. Leveraging their demographic strength, they ought to assert themselves and provide mutual support. Their efforts should be directed towards self-actualization, rather than competing with their spouses."

By Dorcas Achi 

The Representative Member for Ehime Mbano State Constituency, Imo State, and Chairman of the House Committee on Women and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Bernard Ndubuisi Ozoemena, has pledged his support for the reserved seats bill in Imo, undertaking to make a constructive contribution towards its enactment.

He made this declaration at the Imo State House of Assembly Complex on 17th March 2026, during an advocacy visit by the Social And Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), in partnership with the Nigeria Civic Society Situation Room, who had called at his office to solicit his support and engagement in furtherance of the Special Seat Bill For Women.

The organisation is presently implementing the IMPACT PROJECT, a multifaceted intervention encompassing advocacy, mobilisation, participation, and transformative initiatives targeting women, children, and disabled communities. Currently, it is undertaking stakeholder engagements in Anambra and Imo States, advocating for the Reserved Seats Bill for Women, sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kanu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The bill has successfully navigated the first and second readings at the National Assembly. The organisation is now seeking to secure two-thirds majority support for the bill when it comes up for final passage in the House.

In her address, SIDEC Executive Director, Mrs. Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, underscored the imperative of augmenting women's representation in elective offices as a catalyst for the nation's holistic development. She lamented the glaring absence of female lawmakers in the current Imo Assembly, positing that the inclusion of women would inject balance and inclusivity into the legislative process.

She decried the disheartening statistics, citing that Nigeria has only four female senators out of 104 senators in the country, 16 female lawmakers out of 360 Members in the House of Representatives, and approximately 55 female House of Assembly members out of 991 across the 36 states. She bemoaned this glaring disparity, characterizing it as emblematic of imbalance and marginalization of women. The enactment of the reserved seat bill for women, she noted, would rectify this anomaly, fostering a more equitable participation and enabling women to make meaningful contributions to governance.

This is not a novel initiative, she observed, noting that the bill has been previously introduced; however, it is currently gaining significant attention, spurred by the successes recorded in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and other African nations where women's participation in elected offices has catalyzed sustainable development, enhanced the citizenry's quality of life, and demonstrated the efficacy of effective representation.

Hon. Ozoemena commended SIDEC for their laudable advocacy efforts, acknowledging that society necessitates inclusive governance to attain optimal outcomes and progress. He pledged to champion the domestication of the bill, contributing his efforts towards its realization, stating that stakeholder engagement would be forthcoming, as it is a noble cause that would resonate with and garner support from all patriotic Nigerians. "We will adapt the bill to our local context and replicate it here, tailoring it according to our peculiarities," he affirmed.

Dorcas Achi 

His Royal Highness Eze John Nwosu, the revered traditional ruler of Isiokwu Ihioma autonomous community, along with his esteemed council of chiefs and village heads, urgently appeal for intervention regarding the critically escalating erosion crisis at Umuezekeoha Umudurunguma, Isiokwu Ihioma in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. 

This dire situation has resulted in loss of lives, devastation of farmlands, familial displacement, and forced relocation of indigenous residents to adjacent communities, necessitating immediate attention and remedial action.

During a press tour of the ravaged erosion site on February 20th, 2026, Eze Nwosu poignantly highlighted the dire circumstances facing his subjects, who are now unable to access their homes, cultivate their lands, or maintain a semblance of dignified existence. His Highness underscored the existential threat posed to the inhabitants, particularly during the impending rainy season, painfully remarking that "the rain that that brings about growth, brings us destruction at all times".

HRH Eze Nwosu, a seasoned administrator and former Chairman of Orlu Local Government, as well as erstwhile Federal Resident Commissioner for multiple states, lamented that despite repeated appeals to successive local government administrations, the erosion crisis was allowed to escalate unchecked. He noted that the ravages of erosion have now reached catastrophic proportions, rendering the local and state governments almost incapable of effective intervention. In light of this, the Federal Government is implored to intervene expeditiously to mitigate the humanitarian crisis and prevent further devastation.

According to him, "we have brought the local Government Chairman to the site. He came with a retinue of officials, including information officials and he promised to speak to agencies of Government and even the governor. After one year, we heard nothing. Not even a skirmish of rescue activities to soothe our nerves and give the impression of action in progress."

Eze Nwosu appealed to the Orlu Local Government Authority to facilitate the provision of a temporary footpath, citing the constitutional mandate of local governments, as stipulated in the 1999 constitution. He acknowledged that while the scale of devastation exceeds the local government's capacity, he emphasized that neglecting to provide such assistance would be unconscionable. The creation of a footpath, he stressed, is imperative to safeguard residents from the hazards of venomous reptiles and wild animals that now inhabit the erosion gullies, posing a constant threat to life.

Hon. Walter Oleghara, President General of the community, issued an urgent appeal to the Governor of Imo State, imploring His Excellency to intervene decisively on behalf of the beleaguered community. He underscored the existential threat posed to residents, highlighting the erosion's pernicious impact on the local economy and aquatic ecosystem, as fertile farmlands are ravaged and environmental degradation are causing health hazards for the indigenous population.

Mr. Augustine Chinedu Nwosu, a resident of the affected area, issued a desperate plea for intervention from both Federal and State authorities, describing the perilous situation as having rendered access to their homes virtually impossible. He expressed distress at the psychological toll on his children, who are now reluctant to return home due to the looming danger. Recounting the erosion's insidious progression since its inception in 2011, Mr. Nwosu lamented the tragic loss of life, affecting both native and non-native inhabitants of the community, as the unabated erosion continues to ravage the area.

Mrs. Nneoma Osuigwe, another resident, implored the government to deploy expert personnel to assess the situation, highlighting the severe disruption to daily life. She highlighted the negative impact on women's livelihoods, as inaccessible routes now hinder their ability to tend to farms or engage in market activities. With fear, she questioned the impending danger for the upcoming rainy season, stating the possible exacerbation of their already precarious circumstances.

The Palace Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Udeze, disclosed that philanthropic individuals and community leaders have undertaken commendable efforts to mitigate the crisis, investing substantial resources in attempts to stabilize the erosion site and establish a safe passage. Regrettably, these initiatives have been rendered futile, as the relentless erosion has nullified their endeavors and resulted in the loss of invested funds, further exacerbating the community's plight.

He emphasized that experts should be invited to carefully look into the crisis and bring about the best solution immediately.

By Dorcas Achi 

The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Diocese His Grace, Rt. Rev. Lucius Ugoji, has declared his strong support for the Reserved Seat Bill For Women, emphasizing that women are entitled to equal opportunities with their male counterparts, given their equality before God.

He endorsed the campaign on 17th March, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, during an advocacy visit organised by the Social And Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) as part of the ongoing PROJECT IMPACT initiative, aimed at fostering inclusive civic engagement, mobilisation, and transformative advocacy in collaboration with the Nigeria Civic Society Situation Room.

SIDEC, a female-led non-governmental organisation headquartered in the Southeast, is presently spearheading the Special Seat Bill campaign in Imo and Anambra States. 

In her address to the Bishop, Mrs Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, Executive Director of SIDEC, emphasized the organisation's advocacy for a 35 percent affirmative action quota for women, underscoring the imperative of augmenting female representation in elective offices. This, she noted, necessitates a constitutional amendment to allocate reserved seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and a minimum of three seats in state Assemblies.

Drawing inspiration from the efficacy of reserved seats legislation in several African nations, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, she expressed optimism that a similar model could be successfully implemented in Nigeria. 

Bishop Ugoji affirmed that women are entitled to parity of rights and opportunities with men, eschewing any form of gender-based discrimination. He underscored the Catholic Church's commitment to upholding human dignity, emphasizing that men and women are essentially equal in the eyes of God.

He lamented that despite constituting a numerical majority, women often prove reluctant to support one another's endeavours. Whilst advocating for women's active participation in electoral contests alongside men, he acknowledged that their domestic responsibilities frequently impede their full engagement in the political sphere. Consequently, he posited that reserving seats for women at all levels of governance would provide them with a viable platform to participate at a pace consonant with their circumstances.

He commended Prof. Nnenna Otti's stellar performance in the recent Abia State governorship election, which he deemed redemptive for Abia State, opining that her exemplary leadership is precisely what Nigeria needs to chart a more felicitous course. 

Bishop Ugoji emphasized that a woman in elected office has a mandate to serve the broader populace, transcending parochial interests, as politics is essentially a vocation of service.

By Dorcas Achi 

Bishop Geoffrey Okoroafor of Egbu Diocese, Anglican Communion, has formally expressed his ardor to collaborate with the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) in championing the Reserved Seats Bill, thereby propelling the advocacy for women's legislative representation in Imo State and beyond.

The Bishop made this commitment during a visit by a SIDEC delegation to the Anglican Diocese of Egbu in Owerri, Imo State, on Friday, 13th March, 2026, as part of efforts to garner support for the bill under the organization's Project Impact initiative in Anambra and Imo States.

The Executive Director of SIDEC, Mrs. Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, announced that the organization, in partnership with the Nigeria Civic Society Situation Room, is spearheading an initiative aimed at redressing the imbalance in women's representation across Nigeria's governance structures.

She decried the prevailing underrepresentation and marginalization of women, highlighting the absence of an enabling environment. The proposed bill, she noted, seeks to establish 37 reserved seats for women in the Senate, an equivalent allocation in the House of Representatives, and 3 seats in each House of Assembly. She solicited the clergy's support and collaboration in mobilizing stakeholders to endorse and vote in favour of the bill when presented to the National Assembly, emphasizing that securing the requisite two-thirds majority vote hinges on concerted efforts.

She conveyed optimism that the bill's passage is attainable, citing the success of similar initiatives in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, where women have demonstrated exceptional governance capabilities. "If the Reserved Seats Bill has yielded positive results in these countries, there's no reason why it cannot be replicated in Nigeria," she remarked.

Responding, Bishop Okoroafor expressed gratitude to SIDEC for their commendable efforts thus far and affirmed his readiness to collaborate with the organization in advancing their shared objectives.

"I am very much willing to collaborate with you. Nigerian women have achieved remarkable success globally, often surpassing expectations. I fully endorse your endeavour, acknowledging that women are equally capable of leadership.

"I also blame the women for undermining one another. Despite being the numerical majority, women have failed to utilize their voting power because of bags of rice shared during elections, often prioritizing short-term gains over long-term benefits. It appears some of us have lost our sense of reasoning."

He observed, however, that Nigerian male politicians are often driven by self-interest, which may hinder their willingness to allocate reserved seats to women. He drew parallels with past instances, noting the initial enthusiasm when a woman was first appointed as a Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria, which was met with widespread acclaim. He expressed optimism that Nigeria's trajectory could shift positively, envisioning a future where a female president could catalyze lasting change in Nigeria.

He pledged to undertake strategic steps to contribute to the advancement of women's representation in governance, thereby ensuring they are accorded reserved seats and a position of prominence in decision-making processes.

By Dorcas Achi 

Prominent Muslim Cleric, Barr. Suleiman Njoku, Imam of Imo State, has affirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting the Special Seat Bill for women in the state. 

He made this known during an advocacy visit by a delegation from SIDEC to the Imo Central Mosque on Friday, 13th March, 2026. The visit aimed to discuss the Reserved Seats bill for women, as part of PROJECT IMPACT - Inclusive mobilization for participation, advocacy and civic transformation, a collaborative initiative between SIDEC and the Nigeria Civic Society Situation Room, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The organization is undertaking an inclusive mobilization drive in Anambra and Imo States, engaging diverse stakeholders across religious, traditional, legislative, and political spheres to garner support for the reserved seat bill, aimed at addressing the existing imbalance in women's representation in Nigeria's legislative bodies, particularly at the national and state assembly levels, as well as promoting women's active participation in Nigeria's governance framework.

 In her speech, the Executive Director of SIDEC, Mrs. Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike decried the glaring gender disparity within Nigeria's corridors of power, citing the stark statistics of only 4 female senators, 16 female federal representatives, and approximately 55 female lawmakers across the 36 state houses of assembly. 

To address this imbalance, she advocated for the allocation of 37 reserved seats for women in the Senate (one per state plus the FCT), 37 seats for women in the House of Representatives, and 3 seats for women in each House of Assembly. This proposal, she emphasized, does not preclude women from contesting other elective positions alongside men. She underscored the viability of this approach, citing the success of similar initiatives in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, where women have demonstrated exceptional governance capabilities.

 Ehiahuruike criticized the disparity, citing the anomaly of a male chairperson leading the Gender Committee at the Imo House of Assembly, emphasizing the pervasive marginalization of women, and argued that women's inclusion is essential for accelerated development at all levels.

She urged the Imam to leverage his esteemed position to advocate with lawmakers, urging them to endorse the bill upon its presentation at the national assembly.

The Imam applauded SIDEC for it's efforts and affirmed his unequivocal support for the Special Seat Bill, underscoring the Islamic principle of gender parity, which accords women equal rights and opportunities as men, particularly in the realm of governance. He supported enhanced representation of women, citing the profound impact of maternal empowerment on national development, as women play pivotal roles in shaping their children, families, communities, and the nation at large.

He pledged to vocally champion the bill and augment his efforts with fervent supplication, predicated on his conviction that prayer possesses the efficacy to sensitize and incline the hearts of incumbent male politicians towards endorsing this progressive legislation.

Extols FCC Executive Chairman On Reforms

By Dorcas Achi 

The esteemed Honourable Commissioner representing Imo State at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Abuja, Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso Asiwaju, has pledged a comprehensive transformation of the FCC office in Imo State. This assurance was conveyed to the personnel of the Imo State FCC office, signaling a new era of revitalization and reform.

He articulated this commitment on March 5th at the Commission's premises at Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, during his inaugural official visit, marking a significant milestone as the newly appointed Honourable Commissioner representing Imo State.

Responding to the challenges presented by Mr. Okolorie Valentine, Director of the Imo State office, Alagbaoso reaffirmed the Fifth Commission's unwavering dedication to collaborative efforts. He highlighted the exceptional leadership qualities of Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, Executive Chairman of the Commission, describing her as a seasoned, empathetic, and receptive leader committed to driving transformative progress and achieving outstanding results for the Commission.

The Imo State office faces several pressing challenges, as outlined by Director Okolorie Valentine, including intermittent electricity supply, inadequate office equipment, insufficient operational funding, deteriorated infrastructure, staff marginalization, and stagnant career growth. 

The Director appealed to Hon. Alagbaoso to facilitate infrastructural revitalization and provision of essential resources, augment funding for statewide monitoring initiatives, champion equitable career advancement opportunities for state office personnel, and foster seamless coordination between the headquarters and state offices.

The Director on behalf of the Imo commission, conveyed his confidence in Alagbaoso's ability to usher in a new era of transformative change, reinvigorated optimism, unwavering integrity, and enhanced stature for the Imo State commission, ultimately yielding a more profound and lasting impact on the state. The personnel presented a gift of appreciation to Alagbaoso.

Upon acknowledging the concerns raised, Alagbaoso provided assurances that the prevailing challenges would be relegated to the past. He underscored the imperative of a conducive work environment, citing the indispensability of reliable power supply, functional equipment, and adequate amenities. Alagbaoso highlighted the sweeping reforms instituted by Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, emphasizing the Commission's commitment to ensuring equitable distribution of resources, infrastructure, and opportunities across states, local government areas, ministries, and institutions.

Alagbaoso stated that the newly appointed Executive Chairman, having earned her credentials, is poised to initiate transformative interventions in state offices. He assured that he would escalate the concerns to both the Chairman and Governor Uzodimma, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges.

Alagbaoso enjoined the Imo State commission personnel to adopt a proactive stance in enhancing their office environment, emphasizing that complaints must be accompanied by involvement. He underscored the collective responsibility inherent in the FCC's narrative, advising that, with requisite approvals, they should undertake remedial initiatives. "Autonomy in action is key," he stressed, "you must not rely solely on government support for every endeavour."

He pledged his unwavering support and open-door approach, emphasizing that his office remains accessible for any concerns pertaining to the commission's welfare, growth, and sustainability within the state.