Women’s Quest for Political Participation in Nigeria’s Democracy, 1999-2025

Abstract

Women’s quest for political participation in Nigeria’s democracy has its encumbrances to women’s achieving full political participation in politics. Its objective is to find a way forward to address the problem.  This paper is important because it adds value to the deliberation on women’s question. This study is unique because it highlights the benefits of women’s participation in democracy. Qualitative and documentary methodologies are adopted. The findings show that women sought for political participation through voting and as registered members of political parties, but their inclusion in elective and appointive positions remains low. Thus, struggle for increased participation was pursued through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), legal battles, twinning and protests. However, they were confronted with encumbrances such as lack of economic empowerment, lack of policy to actualize the 35% affirmative action, inadequate support from political parties, among others. The undermining of democratic principles, violation of women’s human rights, among others are implications of the neglect of women’s quest for political participation. This paper identifies benefits of women’s political participation to include gender responsive-governance and equality, strong political leadership, among others are benefits of women’s political participation. Conceding executive positions of parties to women, legislation on 35% affirmative action, among others, are ways forward to address the encumbrances to women’s quest for political participation. The paper concludes and recommends that culture and society change with time, Nigeria should not be exception to this changing trend of increase political empowerment of women.