Silent Sisters: When Women In Power Fail Other Women

By TOSAN OYAKHILOME-AKAHOMEN

ON 14 October, the Nigerian Senate had a chance to speak for the voiceless, yet the chamber fell silent. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central moved a motion demanding government intervention for Nigerian women reportedly abused and exploited in Libyan prisons. The plea was urgent, emotional, and deeply human. But when the Senate President called for a seconder, not a single female senator rose to support her. Only Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, a man, stepped forward, rescuing the motion from immediate collapse.

The moment was telling. It exposed a glaring gap in women’s solidarity and raised uncomfortable questions about the role of female politicians in championing women’s rights. Across the world, female leaders and influencers routinely demonstrate unity and courage in the face of injustice. Consider the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Thailand: when contestant Fátima Bosch of Mexico was publicly humiliated, fellow contestants—including the reigning queen—walked out in protest. Their collective action transcended borders, yet Nigerian senators remained inert when their compatriots faced life-threatening abuse abroad.

“If women in beauty pageants can rise for one another without boundaries, why do women in power stay silent when their own are suffering?” asked Lagos-based gender advocate Mrs. Tolu Abisogun.

Part of the explanation may lie in numbers. The 10th Senate, inaugurated in June 2023, has only four women out of 109 members—3.7 per cent. In the House of Representatives, women make up just 4.7 per cent. Together, female legislators occupy less than 5 per cent of the National Assembly, one of the lowest ratios in sub-Saharan Africa. By comparison, Rwanda’s parliament boasts 61 per cent women, South Africa 46 per cent, and Senegal 43 per cent.

But as analysts point out, the problem is not merely numerical. “The issue is not just about numbers anymore. It’s about consciousness—the will to act when it matters,” said Dr. Suliman Aliu, a political analyst. “We cannot continue to clamour for more women in leadership if those already in power remain indifferent to the struggles of less privileged women.”

Of the four female senators in the 10th Assembly—Sen. Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party, FCT), Sen. Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West), Sen. Ipalibo Banigo (PDP, Rivers West), and Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central)—only Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently championed motions on women’s rights, gender-based violence, and rehabilitation of vulnerable citizens. Observers say the absence of support from her colleagues symbolizes a deeper disconnection between women in power and women at the grassroots.

“It’s heartbreaking that when the chips are down, women in privileged positions often forget that they are standing on the shoulders of other women,” said civil society activist Mrs. Lilian Brendan. “Representation means nothing if it does not translate to advocacy.”

The decline in female representation—from eight senators in the 9th Senate to four in the 10th—is more than a statistical drop; it signals regression in political inclusivity. At the state level, only 45 out of 991 legislators are women, highlighting the structural imbalance across Nigeria’s political landscape.

Yet, outside politics, Nigerian women continue to demonstrate courage, solidarity, and influence. From entrepreneurs mentoring start-ups to community leaders driving social change, women are stepping up and lifting each other. Critics argue it is time for female politicians to match this energy, leveraging their positions to protect women’s dignity and welfare.

As the nation looks toward 2027, gender advocates call for accountability. Women in office must be held to the same standards as their male counterparts—not merely for occupying seats, but for actively defending women’s rights. Structured support networks, mentorship programs, and financial backing for credible female candidates are essential to transforming representation into meaningful advocacy.

The silence in the Senate may have passed, but its echo lingers—a stark reminder that the fight for women’s inclusion is not just about presence in chambers of power, but about using that power to make voices heard, lives protected, and justice served.