“I Believe That the Conversation on the Quota System Should Be Domesticated” — Adora Onyechere Sydney-Jack
On Electoral Reform Half Hour, Adora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, Executive Director of Gender Strategy Advancement International, emphasized the need to domesticate the discussion around gender quotas in Nigerian politics to ensure women’s representation resonates at the grassroots level. Drawing from her experience as a former House of Assembly candidate in Imo State, Adaora highlighted the unique barriers women face in politics, from limited financing and access to political platforms to stereotyping and exclusion from decision-making spaces.
“The biggest gap I saw was the absence of women’s voices at the community level,” she said. “If women want to enter politics, they must help build the political structures they hope to emerge from.” Adora explained that the media, often accessible only to the financially privileged, poses an additional barrier by making it difficult for women to amplify their platforms affordably.
She also urged regulatory bodies like the NBC and INEC to enforce policies that protect female candidates from stereotyping in political coverage. “When a woman steps forward, the narrative too often turns to unfounded accusations,” she said, advocating for stricter guidelines to foster respect and inclusivity in media portrayals of women.
On the topic of gender quotas, Adaora supported their introduction but argued for a bottom-up approach, stating, “I believe that the conversation on the quota system should be domesticated, so grassroots women feel a sense of belonging in the process.” She suggested that localized adoption of quotas could pave the way for a broader shift in political culture.
Concluding her insights, Adaora shared her thoughts on broader electoral reforms, emphasizing the importance of diaspora voting. She believes that the Nigerian diaspora plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and should have a say in the electoral process. “The diaspora community contributes significantly to our GDP and deserves the opportunity to influence the decision-making that affects their home country,” she stated.