By David Peter

The Constitution of Nigeria establishes a federal democratic republic system of government and guarantees its citizens the right to be elected, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble and form associations, and to vote. Despite the ordinance of Nigeria's law, Cross River State has been recording low participation of "competent women" in both elective and public offices, until the emergence of His Excellency, Sir. Benedict Ayade.

The analysis and scorecard of Cross River Politics at the 2019 general elections indicate that "women make up over 47 percent of registered voters for the 2019 elections."

Ahead of the gubernatorial race in 2023, it's requisite for a woman to be the second-highest-ranking official in the executive branch of Cross River State. Nonetheless, bidding for such a diplomatic status requires a woman of definitive prestige who's a susceptible scholar, possessing excellent administrative integrity in politics.

Associate Professor Gertrude Nnanjar Njar, pedigree as a woman is quite intimidating, giving birth to, no fewer than 35 publications and lead author in both local and international journals, also amassing distinct awards and honors across 20 multinational countries.

Scholar Gertrude currently serves as the first female surveyor and Head of Departments, Surveying and Geoinformatics in the University of Calabar, a daughter of Ekpache Nkome in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Njar's, fitness for a quality representation in politics has to verge her the first female surveyor who was Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Women Affairs.

Her enthusiasm to achieve the blueprint of the Cross River chart should not be erred, misjudge, or miscalculated discerning the acuity of women's peripheral in politics. A Jamaica singer and songwriter, Bob Marley, once sang “Who the cap fits, let them wear it.”

Prior to universal suffrage, provincial legislatures had granted women the right to vote. But, what happens after, Surveyor Gertrude, the Women Adviser, accrued over 47% of the voting strength of women? Njar, as a grassroots mobilizer, should not be coined as a political marshal tool who enlightened and assembled women to en mass their vote during the era of the election but should also be integrated into authority, as her credentials deemed her suit.

Her pairing with the APC Cross River 2023 gubernatorial candidate would harness the voting resilience among the women and also, spur women in rural communities, to come out en mass to vote for the ruling, All Progressives Congress, this would further promote the process of transformative leadership, citizenship and, women inclusiveness in Nigeria's politic.

According to Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria, “For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.” Professor Gertrude, scorecards have eminently insured her to be paired as the Deputy Governor's, prospect.