About half of Nigeria’s population is made up of women. However, it is quite surprising and unfortunate that women occupy a very marginal political leadership position in the country. Rather than get better, the outcome of the 2019 general election has shown a worsening of the abysmal representation of women in government.

Since independence, Nigeria has had very little by way of women participation in the Nation’s governance. The recently concluded 2019 general elections saw 73 candidates vie for the position of presidency, however, only 7 of those 73 were women.

For deputy governors, the 2007 and 2015 elections produced female Deputy Governors in 6 states which remains the highest till date. The recently concluded 2019 election saw only 3 states having female deputy Governors.

The 9th House of Representatives is expected to have the lowest number of women representation since independence. The 2019 election results showed that of the 360 available seats, only 11 of them will be occupied by females. Contrast this with what obtained in 2011 when 26 women won election into the house (the highest till date).

For a more illustrative look at women representation in political leadership position in Nigeria since 1999, please see the infographic below.

SOURCE: Databod: Gender Inequality in Nigerian politics

The Nigerian political terrain is made up of hawkish men who makes people believes women are good for two things only.

Whereas majority of them are less intelligent when making political decisions without the input of their wives. Those who neglects their wives wise counselling only come back home with Ghana must go and while away their time in office with sleep.

how about you the op give us also the comprehensive stats of the gender gap in regards to the military personnel being deployed at the multitude of battle fronts in this lugardian contraption called zoogeria?!

don't you think that females are not being properly represented in this sector?!

I am yet to see the gender equality proponents fight for the rights of the female gender to shed their blood for their precious "one nigeria"!!!

We need to step up and contest for elective posts in this nation.
We have many women in the country that can hold the bull by the horn...

We still find it surprising why one of the brightest and industrious woman in our nation pulled drom contesting out just days to the presidential election!

We need to unite, rise up and contest.
We can't get elected from our living rooms, ladies!

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

11 women out of 360 and yet we want them to fight for the rights of women.

cc lalasticlala come and see o.

wetin them get to contribute abeg they belong to other room

So what? Nonsense.

Since the women are equal to men, who stops them from aspiring for anything? Why can't they pursue it vigourosly like their "equal men"?

Or they should be given elective offices for no other reason than that they are women?

A

God bless GEJ for the 2015 election that saw our women in NASS, not the one baboon conducted in 2019.

Orisirisi

u wont compare the female mentality of 1999 to what we have now ...

they were wiser then ...

Watch out how feminists will rush to this page to comment .

Okay

.

OP a woman was once a governor in anambra na

virgy Etiaba... though that was for two weeks sha

jasmine1600:
A core northerner will never subscribe to gender equality.

There are more ladies holding elective and political offices in the north than wherever you come from, go and find out.

The day our women folk start taking politics seriously, instead of going into it with an entitlement mentality, their political fortunes will improve.

I

and so what?...

Does it also occurs to the poster that women and Men are different. Equality of opportunity should be the goal, not equality of outcome. Equality of outcome is unattainable, because if you leave people to to Make their own choices, you will never get equal representations. The Nigerian constitution does not prohibit women from reaching high heights.

And it's only fair to not cherrypick top positions women are few in, while ignoring the multitudes of worse jobs men do, that women are not represented in as well eg soldiers dying in sambisa, trashmen, infact most horrible jobs.

Bb

callusmiller:
God bless GEJ for the 2015 election that saw our women in NASS, not the one baboon conducted in 2019.

Really?

I'm not so big on wanting women to be in power, it is not like their gender will automatically make them do better than the males anyways e.g Diezani but it's only a matter of time.. More ways are being opened for us.

Provide the stats. Because I know this is a barefaced lie.

TRIGITIS:

There are more ladies holding elective and political offices in the north than wherever you come from, go and find out.

A group of people said women belong to the kitchen while another said they belong to the "Other room"... This 2 groups are just being Myopic.

Women ought to be given more chance in Governance than what they are been given presently

MONIKERREVEALER:
how about you the op give us also the comprehensive stats of the gender gap in regards to the military personnel being deployed at the multitude of battle fronts in this lugardian contraption called zoogeria?!

don't you think that females are not being properly represented in this sector?!

God bless!!!

I am sick of stupid people wailing over nothing. You will never see them wail over that. Equality is when it comes to enjoyment and not the other way round. How many female sodiers have lost their live compare to male?

I am not in anyway against women taking up position of power but there is no where in the world where power is given on a platter of gold.

So what these fools are saying is that people should be given power because they are women. What law in Nigeria stops women from contesting for any position. Obi or whatever her name is contested and quit.