The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has signed a policy to protect women’s participation in politics, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
The NRM presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke, has reaffirmed that women have the capacity to lead Nigeria, as the party takes another practical step towards removing barriers to political participation.
Speaking in Abuja at the signing of the party’s Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, Okereke challenged the stereotypes that discourage women from seeking leadership positions. The initiative was organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
For the NRM, the policy connects women’s representation with the conditions necessary for meaningful participation: safety, dignity, fair competition and the opportunity to serve.
Okereke said women must have opportunities to contest elections and shape decisions, alongside their contributions as campaigners and voters. She described the support she has received within the NRM as a significant encouragement to her political ambition.
“I must say coming to NRM has been the best thing that has happened to my political career,” she said.
Creating a safer path to leadership
NRM National Chairman, Prince Chinedu Obi, said the policy reflects the party’s commitment to inclusion and good governance within its own structures.
He identified sexual harassment and exploitation as barriers that can prevent women from entering politics or discourage them from remaining involved. Addressing those barriers, he explained, is essential to creating a level playing field.
Obi pointed to women already serving in the party’s leadership, including four female state chairpersons and the National Organising Secretary.
He also emphasised that Okereke emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through a competitive primary election. Her emergence, he said, reflected the outcome of the party’s democratic process.
The chairman expressed the NRM’s willingness to continue working with organisations that can help strengthen women’s participation and improve internal party practices.
From policy adoption to practical protection
Nigerian Women Trust Fund Programme Officer Malliya Manu explained that the policy was developed with the NRM over two months.
She said the initiative would establish channels for reporting sexual harassment and exploitation, helping women participate in party activities without fear. The collaboration forms part of a pilot effort to make political party environments safer and more accessible to women.
The signing provides a foundation for strengthening safeguards within the NRM and supporting women who seek to organise, campaign, contest elections and hold leadership positions.
Connecting inclusion to the Rescue Nigeria Blueprint
The initiative aligns with the NRM’s Rescue Nigeria Blueprint, particularly Pillar 11 on women’s inclusion, youth empowerment and social equity. The party’s published policy communications identify women’s participation in governance as part of this pillar.
Protecting women’s participation gives practical expression to that commitment. Opportunities to lead become more meaningful when women can pursue them in an environment that respects their dignity and provides a way to raise concerns.
The policy also reflects the NRM’s wider principles of credible leadership, selfless service and respect for the rule of law. Applying those principles within the party strengthens the foundation for the accountable governance it seeks to offer Nigerians.
As preparations for 2027 continue, the NRM is connecting its message of national rescue with the work of building a more inclusive political institution—one in which women can contribute their ideas, compete fairly and lead with confidence.
