19/02/2026
A workshop has been held to promote electoral integrity and democratic political participation through electoral and political literacy among women in Nigeria.
In recent decades, elections in West Africa have been marred by various challenges, and the region continues to witness recurrent electoral violence and a rapid deterioration of the information landscape.
These factors undermine the legitimacy of electoral systems, eroding public confidence and weakening citizens’ ability to freely elect their representatives.
In some West African countries, such as Nigeria, the difficulties and obstacles faced by women voters and candidates have led to disturbingly low levels of female representation in politics.
In response to this situation, as part of the European Union’s Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) project, a workshop has been organised with the aim of strengthening electoral integrity and promoting peaceful democratic participation by focusing on greater electoral literacy and greater political participation by women in Nigeria.
The project responds to the persistent challenge of limited access to accurate and reliable electoral information, which often exposes women to misinformation, political manipulation and electoral violence. By equipping participants with critical knowledge and practical tools on electoral processes and integrity standards, the workshop seeks to empower them to participate constructively and responsibly in democratic processes, while promoting peaceful elections in their communities.
Following the workshop, participants are expected to demonstrate a better understanding of the principles of electoral integrity, greater resilience in dealing with disinformation and manipulation, and a strengthened capacity to defend transparent, credible and peaceful electoral processes from the community to the national and regional levels. Scenarios that promote the presence of women in the political sphere, achieving significant progress towards political equality and concrete steps that allow women to compete and run for office on an equal footing in the upcoming electoral processes.
