Women Participation in Party Politics in Nigeria : Challenges and the Way Forward

Abstract

This paper examines women participation in party politics in Nigeria. Party politics in a large number of cases, is the launching pad into political positions in most Democracies. Observations from past and present practices reveal that women participation in party politics in Nigeria has been marginal, especially when marched against their numerical strength. Historically, women have held powerful political positions as exemplified by the lives of Madam Tinubu of Lagos, Queen Amina of Zaria, Margaret Ekpo of Calabar and Funmilayo Kuti. However, there is need to move from history and improve as well as increase women participation so as to ensure equitable power sharing among the genders in the Nigerian polity. The events leading to the total rejection of an only female presidential candidate, Sarah Jubril, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) calls for positive actions to avoid similar challenges in the future. Systematic and integrated campaigns in both rural and urban centres need to be intensified to play down gender stereotypes of public roles for women.