Main Article Content
Abstract
The 1999 transition to democracy in Nigeria marked a watershed, as several previous democratic attempts had been undermined by military takeovers. Since then, the democratic process has not been as exciting as initially envisioned. The path toward democratization is not only difficult; it is uneven and filled with challenges. This hampers the full integration of democratic ideals into Nigeria’s political system. While Nigeria faces many democratization hurdles, one of its major shortcomings is the underrepresentation of women who make up a large portion of the population. This absence strips Nigerian democracy of its majoritarian character. The near absence of women in both electoral and key appointed positions undeniably gives Nigerian democracy an androcentric outlook. This paper examines the challenges women face in Nigerian politics and highlights some of their achievements. Its data were secondarily sourced. It finds that, although there has been slight progress in women’s visibility in Nigerian politics, much more remains to be done. It concludes that the outlook for women’s inclusion in politics is promising and recommends constitutional reforms that would positively favour women’s participation in politics.
Keywords
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdulkadir Salaudeen

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
- Adekaiyaoja, A. (2023). Imbalanced gender representation in cabinets: Reviewing women in presidential cabinets in the Fourth Republic. Center for Democratic Development Research Report.
- Agina-Ude, A., & Fijabi, M. (2020). Women’s representation in Nigeria’s leading political parties. Center for Democracy and Development, 2. Women and 20 years of democracy. Getting women elected: Challenges and opportunities. https://www.cddwestafrica.org/reports/
- Awofeso, O. & Odeyemi, T.I. (2014). Gender and political participation in Nigeria: a cultural perspective. Journal Research in Peace, Gender and Development, 4(6), 104-110. http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/jrpgd.2014.029
- Bardall, G. (2017). Women are using social media to combat violence against women in elections. In S. Henneberg, Gender Politics. Greenhaven Publishing, 89-106.
- Butler, J. (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.
- David, C. (2021, December 23). Gender equality: How ethno-religious sentiments frustrated bill https://newtelegraphng.com/gender-equality-how-ethno-religious-sentiments-frustrated-bill/
- Dworkin, A. (1981). Pornography: Men possessing omen. Penguin Books.
- Ethel, K. (1984). Gender politics: From consciousness to mass politics. Harvard University Press
- Gilman, C. P. (1911). The man made world: Or, our androcentric culture. Feedbooks.
- Habermas, J., & Rehg, W. (2001). Constitutional Democracy: A Paradoxical Union of Contradictory Principles? Political Theory, 29(6), 766–781.
- Harrison, K., & Boyd, T. (2003). Understanding Political Ideas and Movements. Manchester University Press.
- Ileyemi, M. (2023, May 29). Eight years in office, Buhari failed to deliver promises on gender equality. Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/601159-eight-years-in-office-buhari-failed-to-deliver-promises-on-gender-equality.html
- International Centre for Investigative Reporting, [ICIR] (2 March, 2022). Constitutional amendment: How the National Assembly voted on 68 bills. https://www.icirnigeria.org/constitution-amendment-how-the-national-assembly-voted-on-68-bills/
- Kolawole, O. T., Adeigbe, k., Adebayo, A. A., & Abubakar, M. B. (2013). Women participation in the political process in Nigeria. Centerpoint Journal: A Journal of Intellectual, Scientific and Cultural Interest, 15(2), 153-174.
- Krook, M. L. (2008). Politics, gender. In W. A. Darity, International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol. 6, 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 332-334.
- Lips, M. H. (1991). Women, men, and power. Mayfield Publishing Company.
- Luka, C. (2011). Women and political participation in Nigeria: The imperative of empowerment. Journal of Social Sciences and Public Policy, 3, 24-37.
- Mannheim, K. (1991). Ideology and utopia. Routledge.
- Mbah, F. (2019, January 24). Nigerian female candidate Oby Ezekwesili quits presidential race. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/1/24/nigeria-female-candidate-oby-ezekwesili-quits-presidential-race
- Merriam-Webster. (n.d). Misandry. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misandry
- Osiruemu, E. (2004). Women’s quest for political authority in Nigeria: The barriers. Global Journal of Humanities. Vol 3 (1), 75-84.
- Petra, I. (2019). 7000 years...of patriarchy. Until the recent era. Independently published
- Rawls, J. (1993). Political liberalism. Columbia University Press.
- Salaudeen, A., & Abdulmu’izz, L. M. (2015). Women and Political Representation in Nigeria: An X-Ray of Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration (2011-2015). VUNA Journal of Politics and Diplomatic Studies,1 (2), 144-157.
- Salaudeen, A. (2019). Muslim women and political leadership in selected Muslim dominated states [Unpublished master's dissertation]. Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
- Salaudeen, A., & Dukawa, S. A. (2021). A Critique of Abu Bakrah’s hadith on women political leadership. ‘Al-‘Abqari Journal of Islamic Social Sciences and Humanities, 24(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.33102/abqari.vol24no1.264
- Salaudeen, A., & Jiddere, A. J. (2024). The national gender policy’s affirmative action: An assessment of the challenges to women representation in cabinet position in Nigeria. Gender Truth Journal, 1(1), 20-50.
- Salaudeen, A., & Jiddere, A. J. (2025). Affirmative action policy and the challenge of female cabinet membership in Nigeria: An analysis from 2019-2023. In A. O. Suleiman (Ed.). Women Representation in Governance in Nigeria (411-432). University of Johannesburg Press.
- Udegbunam, O. (2022, December 19). 2023: Female presidential, guber candidates speak on election promises, to tackle insecurity, infrastructure, others. Premium Times
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/571280-2023-female-presidential-guber-candidates-speak-on-election-promises-to-tackle-insecurity-infrastructure-others.html
- UNFPA (2005). Frequently asked questions about gender equality. https://www.unfpa.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-gender-equality
- UNICEF (2017). Gender equality: glossary of terms and concepts. UNICEF for every child. https://www.unicef.org/rosa/media/1761/file/Genderglossarytermsandconcepts.pdf
- UN WOMEN, (2023). Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation.https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-
- Valen, K. (2010). The twisted sisterhood: Unraveling the dark legacy of female friendships. Ballantine Books.
- Walby, S. (1990). Theorizing patriarchy. Basil Blackwell.
- Yetunde, L. A. (2011). Nigerian women in politics: A study of the role of women in President Obasanjo's administration, 1999-2007. In T. Falola & S. U. Fwatshak (Eds.). Beyond tradition: African Woman and Cultural Spaces. Frankard Publications, 327-340.
References
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2023). Imbalanced gender representation in cabinets: Reviewing women in presidential cabinets in the Fourth Republic. Center for Democratic Development Research Report.
Agina-Ude, A., & Fijabi, M. (2020). Women’s representation in Nigeria’s leading political parties. Center for Democracy and Development, 2. Women and 20 years of democracy. Getting women elected: Challenges and opportunities. https://www.cddwestafrica.org/reports/
Awofeso, O. & Odeyemi, T.I. (2014). Gender and political participation in Nigeria: a cultural perspective. Journal Research in Peace, Gender and Development, 4(6), 104-110. http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/jrpgd.2014.029
Bardall, G. (2017). Women are using social media to combat violence against women in elections. In S. Henneberg, Gender Politics. Greenhaven Publishing, 89-106.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.
David, C. (2021, December 23). Gender equality: How ethno-religious sentiments frustrated bill https://newtelegraphng.com/gender-equality-how-ethno-religious-sentiments-frustrated-bill/
Dworkin, A. (1981). Pornography: Men possessing omen. Penguin Books.
Ethel, K. (1984). Gender politics: From consciousness to mass politics. Harvard University Press
Gilman, C. P. (1911). The man made world: Or, our androcentric culture. Feedbooks.
Habermas, J., & Rehg, W. (2001). Constitutional Democracy: A Paradoxical Union of Contradictory Principles? Political Theory, 29(6), 766–781.
Harrison, K., & Boyd, T. (2003). Understanding Political Ideas and Movements. Manchester University Press.
Ileyemi, M. (2023, May 29). Eight years in office, Buhari failed to deliver promises on gender equality. Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/601159-eight-years-in-office-buhari-failed-to-deliver-promises-on-gender-equality.html
International Centre for Investigative Reporting, [ICIR] (2 March, 2022). Constitutional amendment: How the National Assembly voted on 68 bills. https://www.icirnigeria.org/constitution-amendment-how-the-national-assembly-voted-on-68-bills/
Kolawole, O. T., Adeigbe, k., Adebayo, A. A., & Abubakar, M. B. (2013). Women participation in the political process in Nigeria. Centerpoint Journal: A Journal of Intellectual, Scientific and Cultural Interest, 15(2), 153-174.
Krook, M. L. (2008). Politics, gender. In W. A. Darity, International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol. 6, 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 332-334.
Lips, M. H. (1991). Women, men, and power. Mayfield Publishing Company.
Luka, C. (2011). Women and political participation in Nigeria: The imperative of empowerment. Journal of Social Sciences and Public Policy, 3, 24-37.
Mannheim, K. (1991). Ideology and utopia. Routledge.
Mbah, F. (2019, January 24). Nigerian female candidate Oby Ezekwesili quits presidential race. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/1/24/nigeria-female-candidate-oby-ezekwesili-quits-presidential-race
Merriam-Webster. (n.d). Misandry. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misandry
Osiruemu, E. (2004). Women’s quest for political authority in Nigeria: The barriers. Global Journal of Humanities. Vol 3 (1), 75-84.
Petra, I. (2019). 7000 years...of patriarchy. Until the recent era. Independently published
Rawls, J. (1993). Political liberalism. Columbia University Press.
Salaudeen, A., & Abdulmu’izz, L. M. (2015). Women and Political Representation in Nigeria: An X-Ray of Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration (2011-2015). VUNA Journal of Politics and Diplomatic Studies,1 (2), 144-157.
Salaudeen, A. (2019). Muslim women and political leadership in selected Muslim dominated states [Unpublished master's dissertation]. Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Salaudeen, A., & Dukawa, S. A. (2021). A Critique of Abu Bakrah’s hadith on women political leadership. ‘Al-‘Abqari Journal of Islamic Social Sciences and Humanities, 24(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.33102/abqari.vol24no1.264
Salaudeen, A., & Jiddere, A. J. (2024). The national gender policy’s affirmative action: An assessment of the challenges to women representation in cabinet position in Nigeria. Gender Truth Journal, 1(1), 20-50.
Salaudeen, A., & Jiddere, A. J. (2025). Affirmative action policy and the challenge of female cabinet membership in Nigeria: An analysis from 2019-2023. In A. O. Suleiman (Ed.). Women Representation in Governance in Nigeria (411-432). University of Johannesburg Press.
Udegbunam, O. (2022, December 19). 2023: Female presidential, guber candidates speak on election promises, to tackle insecurity, infrastructure, others. Premium Times
UNFPA (2005). Frequently asked questions about gender equality. https://www.unfpa.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-gender-equality
UNICEF (2017). Gender equality: glossary of terms and concepts. UNICEF for every child. https://www.unicef.org/rosa/media/1761/file/Genderglossarytermsandconcepts.pdf
UN WOMEN, (2023). Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation.https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-
Valen, K. (2010). The twisted sisterhood: Unraveling the dark legacy of female friendships. Ballantine Books.
Walby, S. (1990). Theorizing patriarchy. Basil Blackwell.
Yetunde, L. A. (2011). Nigerian women in politics: A study of the role of women in President Obasanjo's administration, 1999-2007. In T. Falola & S. U. Fwatshak (Eds.). Beyond tradition: African Woman and Cultural Spaces. Frankard Publications, 327-340.