IPAC elects first female deputy chair

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has elected Zainab Ibrahim as its first female Deputy National Chairman, a development she described as a major leap for gender inclusion in Nigeria’s political space.

Ibrahim, who is also the Deputy National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said she emerged from the IPAC executive election held on December 8, 2024, at the council’s national secretariat in Garki, Abuja.

The election was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This is the first time a woman has been elected into this position. It shows that IPAC is leading the way in inclusive governance,” Ibrahim said while briefing journalists on Wednesday.

She attributed her emergence to a new gender-balancing provision in the IPAC constitution, which mandates a male-female pairing in leadership positions. Under the arrangement, popularly known as the “twinning formula” or “zebra system,” any male office holder must have a female deputy and vice versa.

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According to her, the constitution now guarantees at least two women in the IPAC executive, a sharp contrast to what she described as “zero gender inclusion” in the past.

“On election day, the positions of Deputy National Chairman and Deputy National Secretary were reserved strictly for women to contest. Today, IPAC has three women in its executive,” she said.

Ibrahim noted that IPAC, the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, plays a critical role in fostering dialogue among parties and deepening democracy. She said her position in the ruling APC would also benefit the council.

“I belong to the ruling party, and that gives me an edge. IPAC will benefit immensely from my position,” she said, adding that she would work to promote dialogue, electoral integrity, inclusivity and internal democracy across party lines.

On allegations that IPAC fuels crises within political parties, Ibrahim dismissed the claims, insisting that internal party disputes are not the council’s responsibility.

“IPAC is not responsible for the internal problems of any political party. That is their internal affair,” she said.

She added that IPAC only recognises party leadership as listed on INEC’s portal, stressing that the council does not involve itself in factional disputes, including those in the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress.

Reacting to questions about internal democracy within the APC, Ibrahim maintained that the party adheres to democratic principles, arguing that consensus remains a constitutionally recognised method of candidate selection.

“In every contest, there will always be people unhappy with the outcome. Some people cannot manage losing,” she said.

Ibrahim also used the platform to openly back President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying women across political parties would play a key role.

“Relationships matter. Many women are ready to collect their PVCs and vote,” she said, adding that the president’s achievements, including salary payments, infrastructure development and ongoing projects, would secure him another term.

On women’s political representation, Ibrahim renewed calls for special reserved seats for women in legislative houses, describing the demand as an issue of equity, not superiority.

She noted that women currently occupy only four seats in the 109-member Senate and 17 of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives, while about 13 states have no female lawmakers at all.

“The proposal is one Senate seat and one House of Representatives seat per state, reserved exclusively for women to contest among themselves,” she said.

According to her, reserved seats would ensure that women’s voices are heard in decision-making and committee leadership. She urged lawmakers to support the proposal in the interest of justice, inclusion and national development.

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