WOMEN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION: AN EXAMINATION OF THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA.

Abstract

The low level of participation of women in both elective and appointive positions since the return of

Democratic Rule in 1999 has been a source of growing concern to many Nigerians. However,

concerted efforts have been made by government and non-governmental organizations to increase

the level of participation of women in politics in line with the declaration made at the fourth World

Conference on women in Beijing, which advocated 30% affirmative action. The National Gender

Policy (NGP) of Nigeria recommended 35% affirmative action seeking more representation of

women in both elective political and appointive public service positions. The under representation of

women in political participation gained root due to the patriarchal practice inherent in our society,

much of which were obvious from pre-colonial era till date. However, with the return of democratic

governance, there has been a marginal increase in women political participation both in elective and

appointive offices. The national average of women's political participation in Nigeria has remained

6.7 percent in elective and appointive positions, which is far below the Global Average of 22.5

percent, Africa Regional Average of 23.4 percent and West African Sub Regional Average of 15

percent. For instance, out of the 43 recently confirmed ministerial appointments by the senate, only

seven (7) are women. Of the 1,487 total available elective positions in the 2019 general elections,

there were 26,137 candidates of which women were only 2,970, representing 11.36% and of this

number only 62 won representing just 4.17%. Against a historical background of women political

marginalization, this paper seeks to examine the level of participation of women on the Nigeria

political scene since 1999 with a particular focus on their performance or lack of it in the 2019

general elections. What is responsible for their less participation or parochialism for instance,

patriarchy, stigmatization, meeting schedules, low level of education, financing capability, political

violence, religious and cultural barriers and how do we chart the way forward. These include a review

of discriminatory practices, economic empowerment of women, support from family, fellow women,

and media, equal representation in governance, and proper perception of women in politics.