ElectHER: Without women in politics, Nigeria limiting extent it can develop

ElectHER, a civil society organisation (CSO), says without women in politics, Nigeria is limiting the extent to which it can develop.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday on the forthcoming off-cycle elections, Ibijoke Faborode, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of ElectHER, said there is a need for “improved consideration” for women’s participation in politics and governance.

Faborode said the discourse about women’s participation in politics must go beyond “surface” conversations.

“There is a need for improved consideration in ensuring that women are pushed forward as candidates,” Faborode.

“One information we could not access despite all the efforts is the number of female aspirants.

“Elections produce leaders, when we don’t have women playing at this level we limit the extent to which we can grow and develop as a country.

“The more we have surface conversations about women’s participation in politics, the less and less stakeholders take it seriously.”

The organisation also unveiled a report “The 2023 off-cycle elections: Evaluating gender representation before the vote”.

According to the report, “there is little or no effort to include women’s participation in subnational levels”.

“A marked lack of emphasis on bolstering women’s political engagement prevails, primarily attributed to the inadequate comprehension of the opportunity cost associated with increased women’s representation in decision-making roles,” the report reads.

“Furthermore, while concerted efforts are being made by CSOs and development partners to advance women’s participation at the federal level, the sub-national levels receive little attention.”

The report indicated there are only three women out of 51 candidates vying for the governorship in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states.