By Victoria Onehi
The development Research and Projects Center (dRPC) has launched the pioneering Research Report entitled – ‘Digital Threats to Women in Politics in Nigeria: Experiences of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence and Political Parties’ Responses.
While unveiling the report in Abuja on Friday,the Minister of Women Affairs and social development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim said the launch of the report on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) comes at a time when the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence reminds everyone that ending violence is not only a women’s concern; it is a national moral imperative.
She said: “The findings of this research shine a powerful light on the dangers women face online—harassment, cyberstalking, misinformation, political intimidation, extortion, and targeted humiliation. These harms silence women, shrink civic spaces, undermine our democracy, and discourage women from stepping into leadership. By engaging with this report, we take a strong step toward strengthening our protective systems, deepening accountability, and enabling safer political participation.
“Our commitment as a government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,is clear and unwavering. The Renewed Hope Agenda positions security, dignity, inclusion, and social stability at the heart of national development.”
The Minister who was represented by her Special Adviser on Political Matters Alhaji Nasiru Zakari, said Nigeria possesses strong legal frameworks for digital protection.”The Cybercrimes Act, the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, and the VAPP Act. The work ahead is to deepen public awareness, strengthen enforcement, and ensure that technology companies, institutions, and citizens uphold these laws in their operations and interactions.” She said.
Special Adviser to President on Health and member of the Board, dRPC Dr Salma Anas-Kolo in her welcome address said since 2024, the development Center and the ALIGN, ODI, UK, have, worked in collaboration to examine a key research question of how technology is being used to intimidate, harass, and silence women in political spaces, and how political parties are responding to these growing challenges.
As a health professional who once had a life changing experience in Nigeria’s political space I have witnessed, first hand, how barriers (physical and virtual) affect women in politics.”She said.
Research Fellow, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion,ODI Global Dr Jan Michaiko, said all research project run by ALIGN programme push frontiers of knowledge about gender norms. He defined norms has unwritten rules and laws in our society.
He said: “The Research that has been done by dRPC and many of our partners in Africa and Latin America simply show that physical, psychological,sexual and other forms of violence are used to enforce these norms especially as it affects public life, including for politicians as well journalist and activist and human rights defender, because they challenge power and the status quo. For instance,you will hear things that women are defying the norm of motherhood for seeking political offices when they should be taking care of their children.”
The Director Programmes at the dRPC Dr Stanley Ukpai while moderating the Panel Report Review said TF-GBV has been subsumed under the roughness of politics,hence there is need for it to be seen through the proper lens as a gender based violence.
One of the discussant on the panel from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) to incorporate the TF-GBV report into party guidelines and constitution for sustainability.
Another discussant from Dept.of Political and Administrative studies,University of Port Harcourt Dr Chioma Ugwu, said implementation of laws against offenders of TF-GBV has been slow, hence the need for the enforcement of section 24 and 25 of the Cybercrime Act.
On her part,the Executive Director of Blue Sapphire Hub Foundation, Hajiya Maryam Gwadabe in her submission said political parties should have a place in their constitution to have Technology Facilitated-Gender based Violence (TF-GBV) well crafted and articulated in such a way that any misconduct will have it’s penalties.
