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Special Report: Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria Hits an Alarming Low Amid Systemic Marginalization

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5 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa, Nigerian Tracker Correspondent

The steady decline of women’s representation in Nigeria’s political landscape has reached a critical point, raising concerns over systemic marginalization and gender disparity in governance.

An analysis of the 2023 general elections reveals a stark underrepresentation of women in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Only four women secured senatorial seats out of 109, while just 15 were elected to the House of Representatives out of 360.

The four female senators include:

Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe (Labour Party, FCT)

Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo (Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers West)

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Peoples Democratic Party, Kogi Central)

Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (All Progressives Congress, Lagos West)

Notably, the number only rose to four after a court ruling reinstated Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had initially been excluded. This marks a decline from the 9th Assembly, where eight women held senatorial seats—a reduction of four.

No Female Governors, Limited Executive Presence

The situation is even more dire in the executive branch, where no woman currently serves as governor. The closest attempt was in Adamawa State, where Aishatu Binani’s bid was ultimately unsuccessful. While women occasionally feature in ministerial appointments, their presence remains minimal compared to their male counterparts.

Experts Weigh In on the Crisis

Public affairs analyst Dr. Muttaqa Yushau Abdulrauf attributes the decline to multiple factors, including financial barriers and entrenched patriarchal norms.

“It is quite unfortunate that women, who constitute a significant portion of voters and the general population, remain grossly underrepresented in elected offices,” he said. “This has been the trend since 1999.”

He identified two key obstacles:

Financial Constraints – Many women cannot afford the high cost of nomination forms for political offices.

Cultural Bias – Deep-seated patriarchy perpetuates the notion that women are unfit for leadership roles.

Dr. Rofiat Adedokun Highlights Gender Marginalization Beyond Politics

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Dr. Rofiat Adedokun, a lecturer in the Department of Banking and Finance at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has stated that women face marginalization not only in politics but across nearly all aspects of society.

She emphasized that gender stereotypes persist in workplaces worldwide, citing the common perception that secretarial roles are exclusively for women. “This should not be the case,” she asserted.

“Both men and women should be given equal opportunities for the sake of equity. That is how it ought to be,” Dr. Adedokun added.

A Call for Affirmative Action

To reverse the trend, Dr. Abdulrauf advocates for reserved seats for women in political parties. “An affirmative action mandating a quota for women in party candidacies would significantly boost their participation,” he emphasized.

On the other hand, Dr. Rofiat was asked about potential solutions, she identified sensitization as the most effective approach to combat such marginalization, particularly from the perspective of women.

Additionally, she also advocated for affirmative measures, such as reserving seats for women in political contests. However, she cautioned, “The reservation of seats must not be limited to specific political offices, as that could lead to another form of stereotyping.”

Dr. Adedokun’s remarks underscore ongoing discussions about gender equality and the need for systemic change to ensure fair representation in all sectors.

Views From The Street Of Nigeria

On the street of Nigeria, Kaduna State, Zaria to be precise, more views concerning the subject matter were sought and the following are the responses gathered:

Fatima Tijani Bintu who is a final year student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is of the same view that there has been an injustice concerning the marginalization of women in Nigerian politics. In her statement, she said, “the dominance of men over women in Nigerian politics is not necessarily a reflection of an inherent ability but rather as a result of a structural and systemic barriers that women face.”

“This opinion is largely supported by empirical evidence globally,” she asserted.

Responding to what could be the cause of such phenomenon, Fatima added that, “societal norms and stereotype are the major cause of such disturbing development.”

In her bid to proffer solutions to the end of the marginalization, she noted that quota system implementation and mentorship programs to giude and support aspiring female politicians are key.

But in a stark contrast to the views aforementioned, a National Youth Service Corp member, Rahmatullah Ahmad, opined that women should not lead. In her words, “women are inherently caregivers and not leaders.”

“Leadership is a very delicate responsibility that must not be merged with emotions–which women are known for,” she asserted.

Substantiating her view, she referenced the drama that ensued between the suspended Senator Natasha and the senate president Akpabio–noting that if she hadn’t been elected into the chambers, such allegation wouldn’t have come up in the first place.

However, as Nigeria’s political landscape remains overwhelmingly male-dominated, the question persists: Will concrete measures be taken to ensure gender equity, or will women’s representation continue to dwindle?

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Court Restrains Anti-Corruption Commission, Others from interfering in MAAUN’s Affairs

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9 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

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The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.

The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Registrar of the court.

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Jigawa Trains Local Government Chairmen on 2025 Tax Reform Act

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9 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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The Jigawa Joint Task Committee has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for local government chairmen and policymakers. The two-day capacity program focused on the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTA) 2025, which is scheduled to take effect nationwide on January 1, 2026.

The training gathered a contingent of state and local revenue stakeholders, including all 27 local government chairmen of Jigawa State, led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), revenue officers, and key policy and tax experts.

The core objective of the session was multifaceted: to enhance understanding of the NTA 2025 and its specific implications for local government administration, strengthen collaboration between state and local tiers for revenue harmonization and joint administration, and improve the technical capacity of local government leaders in deploying modern revenue processes and digital systems.

During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), Dr. Nasir Sabo Idris, commended the state government’s leadership for its commitment to fiscal autonomy.

“I wish to acknowledge the immense support of His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA,” Dr. Idris said.

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According to Dr. Idris, Jigawa Governor’s commitment to revenue generation has been unwavering, ensuring a consistent improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Dr. Idris pointed out that the upcoming launch of JigiTax, a wholly digital platform designed to streamline and modernize revenue collection across Jigawa State, is underway.

He said the move is seen as a direct response to strengthening transparency and blocking revenue leakages.

On his part, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Graba Hannun-Giwa, whose address was delivered by the Director of Research, Malam Samaila Yusuf, said:

“The Ministry of Local Government is doing all it takes to continue supporting the visionary policies of Governor Namadi and driving policies that will shore up the revenue base of our local governments,” Malam Yusuf stated, emphasizing a unified approach to fiscal strength.

The dividends of the collaborative efforts were highlighted by the ALGON Chairman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dutse Local Government.

Speaking to newsmen, he asserted that the state’s disciplined approach had fundamentally altered the financial landscape at the grassroots level.

“With the commitment shown by Governor Namadi and the diligent efforts of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee, no local government in Jigawa now seeks intervention,” the ALGON Chairman declared.

He said, “Revenue loopholes are being systematically blocked, and improved compliance by different stakeholders, including markets and motor parks remitting their taxes, has significantly boosted our revenue drive.”

He further confirmed that the local governments had already undertaken a series of awareness trainings for all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the NTA 2025.

Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said the in a paper presentation titled “State and Local Government in the Law,” by a legal practitioner. The paper specifically called for the legislative institutionalization of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee by the State House of Assembly. This institutional backing, the practitioner argued, would solidify the collaborative framework for revenue harmonization and ensure its longevity beyond the current administration.

 

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Former President Obasanjo Endorses Turaki’s Faction of PDP

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15 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted the national working committee (NWC) of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The PDP faction visited the former president on Saturday, and Kabiru Turaki led the delegation.

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Those among the delegation are: Muazu Aliyu, former Niger governor; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and many more.

Interacting with the delegation, Obasanjo commended the faction’s effort, adding that its members should “soldier on”.

The former president also urged the faction to remain steadfast in instilling discipline in the party, adding that:

“anybody who wants to belong to a political party must adhere strictly to its rules and regulations”.

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