As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, the question of women’s political participation is becoming more urgent than ever. With women making up nearly 50% of the population, their near absence from the nation’s decision-making table remains a glaring contradiction in Nigeria’s democracy.
The dismal representation of women in the 2023 general elections, especially at the gubernatorial and presidential levels, has left many wondering: will the tides change in 2027, or will women continue to be sidelined?
Despite years of advocacy and countless conferences on gender inclusion, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the lowest female political representation in Africa. The 2023 elections revealed just how deeply rooted this imbalance is. Only 24 women contested for governorship seats across various states and parties, yet none secured victory. Notably, the two dominant political parties; APC and PDP failed to produce a single female flagbearer in any state. Most women in these parties were confined to roles such as “women leaders,” used to mobilize votes but not empowered to compete for real leadership.
Some of the courageous women who dared to run include Aishatu Binani (APC, Adamawa), Beatrice Itubo (Labour Party, Rivers), and Gladys Ikonnaya Johnson-Ogbuneke (SDP, Abia), among others. Yet their bravery was met with a system heavily skewed in favor of male dominance, financial muscle, and entrenched party structures that rarely give women a fair shot.
Even more disappointing was the presidential race, where only one woman, Princess Chichi Ojei stepped forward as a candidate, becoming the lone female voice in a crowded field of male contenders. Her candidacy barely made a dent in the political landscape, not because of a lack of ambition or capability, but because of a political culture that discourages women from aiming for the top.
According to the United Nations, Nigeria is significantly lagging in gender parity, particularly in political and economic leadership. The UN Women agency notes that while Nigerian women are highly active in grassroots mobilization, they remain woefully underrepresented in actual governance and leadership roles. This gap continues to widen as political alliances and coalitions, like the emerging ADA bloc poised to challenge the APC in 2027 take shape without meaningful female involvement.
A major hurdle remains the toxic nature of Nigerian politics, where power plays, defections, and money politics dominate. The current political scene is fast becoming a playground for personal wealth accumulation rather than nation-building. Amid all this chaos, the silence of women in national discourse is deafening. While men declare their ambitions and jostle for positions, very few women are seen preparing or being supported to contest for top offices, including the presidency.
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Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, remarked on several occasions about building a “New Nigeria.” But without deliberate inclusion of women in this vision, such a future remains incomplete. Even in the National Assembly, voices like Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan stand almost alone in championing critical issues like gender-based violence and inclusivity.
As the political drums for 2027 grow louder, what will be different? Will women be offered real support from within their parties? Will political stakeholders, including traditional rulers, civil society, and the media, rally behind qualified women to contest for key positions? Or will history repeat itself with women reduced to token roles in campaigns and ceremonies?
There is still time to change the narrative. But it requires deliberate action, not just by women, but by a society that claims to seek development. Because true progress is impossible when half the population is excluded from leading it.
Nigerian women are watching. The question is: who among them will rise and dare to challenge the status quo in 2027? Will this be the year a woman finally steps forward not just to contest, but to win?
