The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has unveiled the full list of Senator-Elects, today. However, there are concerns about the near-absence of women in Nigeria’s highest legislative arm.
The senatorial elections were held on Saturday, 25th February 2023 alongside the House of Representatives and Presidential elections. Though they are still outstanding seats where either the district election was postponed or declared inconclusive. See the full list – https://elanhub.net/photo-news-verified-inec-list-of-senator-elect/
Of the 109 seats in the Red Chamber, only three females emerge as Senator-Elects. They are Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo – Rivers West(PDP), Mrs Adebule Idiat Oluranti – Lagos West(APC) and Kingibe Ireti Heebah – FCT, Abuja(LP).
This is a sharp decrease in what was obtainable in the outgoing 9th senate where they are six female senators, Oluremi Tinubu – Lagos Central(APC), Rose Oko – Cross Rivers North(PDP), Stella Oduah – Anambra North(PDP). The others are Betty Apiafi – Rivers West(PDP), Aishatu Dahiru – Adamawa Central(APC and Uche Ekwunife – Anambra Central(PDP).
@Oba_Alexander_ on Twitter believes “It’s still a long journey and work to gender parity in our Polity in Nigeria. The trend of abysmal women participation in Nigerian politics reached a new low.”
In a Business Day publication on March 8th, 2022, ‘Seven numbers show Nigeria far from gender parity’ it was reported that “Nigerian women have the lowest proportion of female lawmakers on the African continent with just 6 per cent of seats in the national parliament held by women compared to an average of 15 per cent across sub-Saharan Africa, according to data from the Geneva-based group. This participation level is low, especially when compared to Rwanda, where women’s representation in the parliament accounts for 61.3 per cent in the Lower House and 38.5 per cent in the Upper House.”
With this decrease, the gender disparity rate between females to males would go higher.
