DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND THE REALITY OF WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN NIGERIAN POLITICS, 1999-2023

Abstract

The democratic system of governance, more than any other, guarantees a wide range of rights and freedoms, including equality of citizens in political participation. Yet, some groups, especially women, are systematically disadvantaged in the politics and governance of their states. Gender disparity is among the most entrenched forms of inequality everywhere, including in Nigeria. This study, therefore, interrogates democratic governance and the reality of women’s participation and representation in Nigeria since 1999. The work adopted mixed methods – a desk review of extant and relevant literature and key informants’ interviews – to elicit relevant data for this work. Ultimately, qualitative data analysis was done to arrive at valid and reliable findings and conclusions. Liberal feminism was adopted as the theoretical framework of analysis in understanding male dominance and gender disparity in Nigerian politics. It was established that women have continued to experience entrenched discrimination, which affects their level of political participation and representation. As compared to other regions of the world and even countries in Africa, Nigeria’s rating in gender parity in political participation has been very low. Factors affecting women’s participation include an entrenched patriarchal culture, political violence, bullying of women, and the cost of politics, among others. It was recommended among others that stakeholders should ensure that cultural/religious practices that discriminate against women are discouraged and their perpetrators are adequately punished to serve as deterrent measures. Again, political institutions, development partners, and other donor agencies should be created to facilitate women’s participation in politics.