An Enugu based group, Women Gather, has urged Gov. Peter Mbah to support the emergence of a woman to fill the vacant Enugu North Senatorial seat following the death of Sen. Okey Ezea.
The Coordinator of the group, Mrs Onyinye Mamah, made the call on Monday in Enugu while briefing newsmen alongside other women on the need for increased women inclusion in governance and the implementation of 35 per cent affirmative action.
Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District, died on Nov. 18, 2025, at the age of 62 after a brief illness.
Mamah described the governor as a strong advocate of gender mainstreaming and urged him to sustain his support for women’s political participation, particularly in the forthcoming by-election to fill the vacant senatorial seat.
“We came here today to remind His Excellency that he is our last option in the case of women inclusion and affirmative action,” she said.
She noted that the group recently engaged with the governor during discussions and seminars on the reserved seat bill in Enugu, commending his disposition toward gender advocacy.
According to her, out of all the Southeast governors they met, Mbah was the most supportive as his discipline and understanding of gender mainstreaming are encouraging and speak to the future.
She, however, expressed concern that since 1999, Enugu State had yet to produce a female senator, describing the development as a significant gap in representation.
“Since 1999 till date, we have never had one woman senator. We have three senatorial zones in Enugu. If two zones go to men, let one zone go to a woman,” she appealed.
According to her, women understand the challenges of poverty, unemployment and family welfare more closely and are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes.
Mamah also decried what she described as the “marginal presence of women in the State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives”, arguing that proper implementation of affirmative action would significantly increase female representation.
She appealed to the governor to consider credible and competent women from the Enugu North axis for the by-election, stressing that the call was not a battle against men but a demand for complementary representation.
On challenges facing women in politics, Mamah cited financial constraints and entrenched political structures as major obstacles.
“Most times, credible and eligible women may not have the financial capacity to match their male counterparts.
“Politics has been dominated by men for decades, and it is not easy to displace those who have occupied the space for so long,” she said.
She distinguished between equality and equity, noting that while women were competent and ready to lead, deliberate support was needed to level the playing field.
Commenting on the governor’s political prospects, Mamah said Mbah enjoyed significant grassroots support in the state, adding that his infrastructural drive and engagement style had endeared him to many residents.
She, however, expressed optimism that the governor could influence the outcome of the forthcoming by-election by backing a qualified female candidate.
Mamah equally, urged him to ensure that his administration would be remembered for advancing genuine women inclusion in governance.
