2019: Disturbing decline in women representation

Women are demanding to be heard and represented more than ever, but the future and changes they want seem to be far-fetched as their number keep declining at decision making levels, ENE OSANG writes

Beijing Declaration

Various  instruments  to which Nigeria is signatory, promotes a certain percentage for women involvement at decision making levels like the Beijing declaration which calls for 35% affirmative action.

Other global and regional instruments on the political participation of young women include the Maputo protocol, CEDAW, ACDEG, ECOWAS charter amongst others.

There is also the National Gender Policy (NGP) which should guide institutions, including political parties on the inclusion of women yet women still grapple with attaining their rightful place in the society.

Recently, the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 23, after which the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections held March 9 demonstrating continued interest in, and enthusiasm of Nigerians, especially women, for democratic elections.

Statistics

Statistics from the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) Gender Election Watch (GEW) room showed massive increase in the number of females who aspired to contest the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives seats in 2019 compared to the fewer number of women in 2015.

The GEW fact-check research shows  female presidential candidates increased from one in 2015 to six in 2019, with a total of 73 candidates, there were 67 males who aspired for the seat.

For the senatorial positions, there was a total of 1,848 candidates comprising 233 females and 1,615 males compared to 2015 when a total of 746 candidates comprising 128 females and 618 males.

 Also, 2019 shows an increase in women candidates for the House of Representatives seats with a total of 4,635 candidates comprising 569 females and 4,066 males unlike in 2015 when a total of 1,772 comprising 270 females and 1,502 males.

The research also noted states with highest number of females who contested the House of Representatives seats with Lagos leading with 71 women, Imo 41, Anambra 34, Osun 30 and Rivers 27.

However, in the build-up to the elections, the party primaries halted the race for many women as many of them couldn’t scale through their delegates to becoming the candidates for their party. Most women who got the candidacy did that from the platform of “smaller parties”.

Sadly again, with the remarkable increase in the number of aspirants only 6 women made it to the senatorial position out of the 109 seats contested for, and 11 women out of the 306 seats in the green chamber.

For the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly positions,  the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) joint international observer delegation  noted the increase in female governorship  and state assembly aspirants compared to 2015.

IRI’s worries

Briefing journalists in Abuja after the March 9 elections,  Regional Director for Africa, International Republican Institute (IRI) John Tomaszewski, said, “The percentage of women candidates for governor and deputy governor increased slightly this year from 6 and 17 percent respectively in 2015 to 8 and 26 percent.

He regretted “there were very few women in winning positions on the tickets fielded by major political parties for the gubernatorial and state house of assembly polls, noting that the two major political parties did not field any women candidates for governor.

“Of the 276 women running for deputy governor, only five were candidates from the All Progressive Party (APC) or People’s Democratic Party (PDP). As for the case for the February 23 national elections, the vast majority of women candidates for state-level elections ran on the tickets of newly created parties, with little prospect of winning elected office.”

“Thus far, the Nigerian government has not applied the 35% affirmative action principle included in the in the 2006 national gender policy, and the National Assembly has repeatedly missed opportunities to adopt legislation that would support greater participation of women in politics.

“A gender and equal opportunities bill has been lying before the National Assembly since 2010. Despite being Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria has the lowest representation of women in national legislative office of any country in the continent, and this representation will likely fall below five percent following the February 23 National Assembly vote. This is not a record to be proud of,” he added.

Affirmative action to the rescue

The IRI boss therefore called on Nigeria to take deliberate steps towards affirmative action by adopting and applying measures to achieve the 35% affirmative action for women in both elective and appointive positions as envisioned in the 2006 NGP.

“The Nigerian government should expedite the adoption of comprehensive electoral reforms in order to lay the groundwork for an improved electoral framework.

“Government should implement fully and expeditiously the recommendations of the Nigerian-led reform initiatives such as the reports from the Uwais commission (2008) and the Nnamani committee (2007), and create appropriate institutions to oversee political parties.”

Co-leader of the NDI/IRI election observer delegation Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh charged citizens on responsible electoral process and participation.

He said, “Nigeria people should claim , protect, and defend their democracy and respect the rights of fellow citizens to participate peacefully in the political process.”

He  said meaningful democratic progress can only be achieved if Nigerians continue to champion their civic duties and responsibilities particularly as the country celebrates the 20th anniversary of democratic rule.

Male politicians accused

But an  Abuja-based politician, who was an aspirant of the area council position, Rahamat Abdullahi, the male politicians have refused to give women chance at leadership.

Abdulahi lamented that the low representation of women for the many available positions is discouraging, calling for urgent attention to be channelled towards true encouragement of women.

“I was the only one that came out of the 56 wards in the FCT. Men should sit down and assess the way they are treating us politically.

“We should be given a chance to lead because we have proven that in this country women can lead and many women who have been given leadership positions are doing exceptionally well.”

Similarly, another female politician, Barrister Ramat Ilaubare Goldfish, expressed disappointment over the just concluded elections as it affects women.

Goldfish maintained that women have got the skills to occupy leadership positions in this country, stressing that women should have 70% of leadership positions while men should be on 30% or, 50/50 because they understand politics better.

 “We had a number of women about 16-17 of them who were vying for different positions from Senate to House of Representatives, House of Assembly and others,  but many didn’t scale through because it was a selection based on favouritism by political parties’ leadership.

“We are qualified and understand how best to improve the lives of the citizens, so we should be given the chance because we are educated, and we understand politics even better than the men who have been given the candidacy.

“No woman to represent my state in the House of Assembly and House of Representatives because none made it as candidates of their party. We cannot be in same position since 1999. We  should sit in a meeting and discuss how best we should be involved in the political future of our state,” she emphasised.

For Abiodun Essiet, a politician, researcher and gender activist who was also an aspirant of the Orozo ward councillorship position in the FCT, the wide gap that exists between political parties in promoting women shows there is still much that needs to be done.

 Essiet said, “With the statistics of women that emerged as candidates compared to the statistics of women who aspired there is a wide gap and this shows Nigeria is not doing well in promoting women representations because political parties have in its constitution to have 35% for women but they are not following through,” she said.

Need to encourage women

Consequently, the Country Director, Women International League for Peace and Freedom and National Coordinator, Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN) Joy Ada Onyesoh, regretted that most women lost out at the party primaries in the 2019 elections.

Onyesoh called on all stakeholders to encourage women by judging them based on their skills and not their gender.

“We need to start seeing women for who they are as credible leaders with personal and leadership skills to participate in political processes, support a woman because they are capable,” she said.

Meanwhile, Lady Okoro, of  centre for organisational development lamented the slow pace of Nigeria in achieving the national gender policy.

“It is obvious that as a country we have a long way to go in achieving the NGP that is the 35% affirmative action that is recommended.

“We are not doing well and the major reason as research have shown is patriarchy, cultural barriers and the seemingly perception of women.

“Women must be seen as partners in development, we are not trying to overtake or control the men. It is a whole lot of work to change orientation, mindset irrespective of what it is we are willing to walk the talk,” she said.

Also, the deputy national coordinator of women situation room Nigeria, Philomena Henry, noted the continual decline in the representation of women, expressing worry that political parties need to consider the demands of women especially, as contained in the gender policy.

“What this means is that if we are not careful, in 2023, women will not be represented at all. Political parties have beautiful manifestoes but no impact on the national gender policy.

“The call for 35% affirmative action has been on for a while and it’s unfortunate that we have not achieved 5% affirmative action let alone 10%.

“The incoming administration should negotiate with women to appoint more women this time around.”

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