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

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?