BREAKING: We were sidelined and dumped after the 2023 election – APC women leaders lament

The Contributions Behind the Victory

The APC women leaders emphasised that their role in securing President Bola Tinubu's election victory was substantial and often undertaken at great personal risk. According to Mrs Patricia Yakubu, President of the forum, members engaged in grassroots mobilisation under difficult conditions, including sleeping in open spaces at the Women's Pattern Centre in Abuja during the election period. Their efforts extended beyond standard campaigning, with some facing direct retaliation for their political involvement.

One leader recounted how her home was demolished by opposition forces on election day to disrupt her canvassing activities. Another described the kidnapping of a member's son just days before the presidential vote, while a third was detained at a police station for three days following election day. A further member suffered a serious motor accident during campaigning in her community and remains in and out of hospital for treatment.

These testimonies underscore the physical and emotional toll exacted on women political operatives, particularly in a security environment where political activism can invite violence or intimidation. The leaders stressed that their demographic represents the largest voting bloc in Nigeria's secular electorate, making their mobilisation critical to electoral outcomes.

The Reward: One Bag of Rice and a Paper Wrapper

Despite these contributions, the women leaders said their recognition from the party hierarchy has been minimal at best. Yakubu stated that following the 2023 elections, each state woman leader and the FCT representative received only 'one bag of rice and one paper wrapper' from the national secretariat. This gesture, they argued, was insultingly inadequate given the scale of their involvement and the personal sacrifices made.

The omission extended beyond the immediate post-election period. The leaders noted that they received nothing during key religious and cultural observances such as Easter, Ramadan, and Salah festivities. Furthermore, they alleged that federal palliative programmes — including cash distributions of N50,000 administered by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development under Dr Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye — were not extended to them for onward distribution to grassroots women, thereby bypassing a trusted channel for reaching vulnerable communities.

This perceived exclusion has fostered a sense of neglect among a group that views itself not as petitioners, but as experienced public servants and community leaders. The forum includes retired Assistant Inspectors General of Police, former diplomats, ex-lawmakers, commissioners, local government chairmen, entrepreneurs, adjunct professors, and academics — individuals whose expertise and networks could be valuable assets in governance.

Demands for Inclusion and Structural Change

The forum's appeal to President Tinubu and party leadership centres on two core requests: meaningful participation in federal appointments and inclusion in government programmes, particularly in states where the APC does not hold the governorship. Yakubu urged the president to leverage his self-described advocacy for women's empowerment to ensure that federal initiatives genuinely involve women at the implementation level, rather than existing only as 'mere records' on paper.

She specifically called for direct engagement between the presidency and ministers or heads of agencies to integrate APC women leaders into programme design and delivery. This, they argue, would not only honour their electoral contributions but also improve the effectiveness of public interventions by tapping into grassroots knowledge and networks.

Beyond appointments, the leaders advocated for structural reforms within the party to ensure women are trained and empowered for mobilisation campaigns. They pointed to ongoing reforms in membership registration as an opportunity to increase women's participation, noting that women currently constitute the majority of registrants and have 'free access to go from house to house' during mobilisation — a reference to their unparalleled reach in community outreach.

Party Leadership Responds: Promises of Reform

In response, APC National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Ganduje acknowledged the validity of the women leaders' complaints, stating their concerns had been 'heard and would be addressed promptly.' He affirmed that President Tinubu remains committed to gender inclusion, citing the current political landscape as evidence of the administration's awareness of women's contributions.

Ganduje indicated that further federal appointments are still forthcoming and assured the forum that the door to such opportunities remains open for party loyalists. He also highlighted ongoing discussions with APC governors to prioritise women's involvement in governance, congratulating female chairpersons elected in Gombe State as an example of progress at the sub-national level.

The national chairman framed the current moment as one of party renewal, noting that the APC — now in its first year of governance under President Tinubu — is undergoing reforms, especially in membership registration. He suggested that these changes would create more space for women's leadership and activism within the party structure, potentially addressing the very exclusion the forum has protested.

What this means

The public lament by APC women leaders serves as a critical reminder that electoral victories in Nigeria are often built on the unseen labour of women who mobilise communities, endure personal risks, and sustain party structures year-round. While symbolic gestures like bags of rice may offer temporary succour, they do not substitute for meaningful inclusion in governance structures or access to decision-making spaces. The forum's demands — for appointments, programme participation, and structural reform — are not radical but rather a call for the party to honour its own stated commitments to gender inclusion. How the APC responds will not only affect the morale of its women's wing but also signal to voters nationwide whether women's contributions are valued beyond the ballot box. As the Tinubu administration enters its second year, the test will be whether promises of reform translate into tangible opportunities for the women who helped secure its mandate.