NIGERIAN POLITICS

This study, titled Exploring Feminism and the Decline of Women’s Participation in Nigerian Politics, investigates the systemic and historical factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in Nigerian political leadership, despite their significant demographic presence. Utilizing a feminist theoretical framework, the research examines the interplay of patriarchy, colonial legacies, and socio-cultural barriers that have marginalized women since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Despite constitutional guarantees of non-discrimination and international commitments like the Maputo Protocol, women occupy only 5.2% of seats in the National Assembly as of 2023, with only 381 female candidates among 4,259 in the 2023 elections. Conducted in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, the study employed a survey research design with a sample of 120 respondents, using a structured questionnaire analyzed via SPSS for frequency and percentage distributions. Findings reveal low social acceptance of women’s political roles, with women constituting about 60% of the electorate but holding less than 20% of political offices. Historical data indicate a shift from pre-colonial gender balance to post-colonial patriarchal entrenchment, with challenges including inadequate knowledge of political rights (71.67% agreement), family responsibilities (74.17%), cultural stereotypes (64.17%), financial constraints (74.16%), and gender inequality (65%). Proposed measures to enhance participation include eliminating discrimination (77.5%), ensuring equal opportunities (85%), creating harassment-free environments (76.67%), empowering women through human resource development (80.84%), and building NGO coalitions (84.16%). The study aligns with existing literature highlighting patriarchy and resource gaps as key barriers while recommending policy reforms, economic empowerment, and advocacy to achieve gender parity in Nigerian politics. This research contributes to feminist discourse and provides actionable insights for policymakers, civil society, and stakeholders to foster inclusive governance and advance gender equality in Nigeria.

Women participation in governance in Nigeria and Edo State in particular, remains a burning issue in nearly every political discourse in Nigeria. For years, it has been observed that women have played comparatively less role as political office holders to their male counterparts.1 In Edo State, Nigeria, the political arena is not different from other parts of the world where political participation is imbalance in favour of men.2 Women‘s participation in the political process has therefore become the focus of many local and international debates in the past two decades.3 Different fora such as the 1995 Beijing Declaration, the 1995 Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women held in Kenya and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, had recognized the plight of women‘s participation in politics especially in the developing countries.4 Against this backdrop, this study seeks to assess the political under- participation of women in politics to Edo state and investigate the reasons for this umbalances.