Politics
Gender Equality In Nigerian Politics

President Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria is a patriarchal
society, a feature mirrored in many aspects of its national life.
In politics, the issue of gender imbalance has continued to draw the attention of many, especially with today’s changing world favouring greater women representation.
As a continent, Africa is striving to give women a better deal than ever before with their number in parliaments of some countries appreciable.
Some activists say Nigeria, being the “Giant of Africa’’, needs to move in that direction.
Statistical evidence by the Department For International Development (DFID) of in 2011, gave a picture of women’s presence in the legislature of some countries.
The statistics indicate that South Africa has 33.2 and 42 per cent respectively in the upper and lower legislative chambers, while Kenya has 27 and 20 per cent respectively in the two chambers.
In Rwanda, women make up 61 out of 106 parliamentarians (58 per cent) and in Senegal, women occupy 65 of the 150 parliamentary seats (43 per cent).
On the Nigerian scene, only one female was among the14 candidates that tried to get the nation’s number one seat in the 2015 presidential election.
After the National Assembly elections, eight women made it to the Senate, which has 109 senators (7.3 per cent), while 14 won seats in the 360-member House of Representatives (the lower house), accounting for four per cent.
The governorship elections also produced four women deputy governors in the nation’s 36 states.
President Muhammadu Buhari swore-in 36 ministers as members of his cabinet on November 11 and only five are women.
All these realities exist in spite of the National Gender Policy which seeks to support women to occupy 35 per cent of elective positions in the country.
To some people, women, for a long time in the nation’s history, have been kept behind the scene and prevented from taking centre stage. Such people believe that women are still treated as second class citizens in the country.
Some believe that women are relegated in the area of political appointments due to cultural stereotypes, traditional practices and the patriarchal structure of the society. Others attribute this to lack of funds, violent nature of politics in Nigeria, absence of agreed quotas for women, failure of political parties to nominate women for elective offices and lack of support from other women.
Sen. Oluremi Tinubu believes that the challenge in ensuring women’s participation goes beyond electing a larger number of women in the parliament or executive. According to her, it is about changing the endemic perception that the public domain is an exclusive preserve of men. Tinubu says there is the need for attitudinal change and increased awareness of the role that women can play in nation building and development.
“Women constitute about half of Nigeria’s population; they constitute a great majority in voting population, yet, they are the minority when you look at the number of candidates running for elective positions or the few who actually get elected.
“Nigerian women must rise up to enlighten and re-orientate themselves on the positive role they can play in governance by coming on board to contest for elective positions.
“They must believe that if they want to make the 21st century the woman‘s century, they should not wait to be called leaders, but embrace the role naturally.
“We need increased women participation in politics to enable us feel more relevant as productive members of the society,’’ Tinubu said.
She believes that the empowerment of women and equality between men and women are prerequisites for achieving political, social, economic, cultural and environmental security among all peoples.
On her part, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, Presidential Candidate of KOWA Party in the 2015 election, believes women need to redefine their role in the polity.
According to her, there is the need for women to redefine their cultural role in the polity, away from the “Aso Ebi’’ syndrome, singing and dancing during electioneering.
Sonaiya believes that women are being used for electoral campaigns; they sing praises of the men and when the men get elected, they forget that these women have a role to play in policy formation.
She says women should begin to realise that their participation in government decision-making is fundamental to inclusive governance, without which good governance is not possible.
“Women need to redefine their role in the polity because our democracy cannot thrive without their full participation.
“No country can progress or prosper if half of its citizens are left behind or treated as mere subjects.
“Progress for women and progress for democracy go hand in hand toward sustainable development if government is to meet the needs of both men and women through a balanced representation at all levels and in all fields of decision making,’’ Sonaiya said.
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, thinks that the lack of synergy among women in the public and private sectors is a contributory factor to the poor representation of women.
Adebule says women need to support one another and work together to achieve collective empowerment in the face of a male-dominated society.
“In spite of decades of struggle for gender equality and women empowerment, women’s political involvement has always been low.
“It appears that women in the private sector have been excluded in the struggle for women representation in government, thereby missing out in the opportunity to build a better synergy between women across the board. For instance, between women in public governance and women in business/private sector.
“Women have consistently demonstrated that they are great leaders with skills and approaches to leadership and management that are both innovative and outstanding and we can harness these potential with strong collaboration and support for one another to increase female representation in politics,’’ she said.
Adebule believes that partnerships for development between civil society, public and private sectors will have to be re-enforced among women to build a very strong team that can penetrate in a supposedly man’s game and be recognised for it.
On finance, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni, Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, an African Investment Bank, says that women often do not have access to the same corporate and business networks that their male counterparts use to raise money for their political ambition.
Sanni says that money is a prerequisite for competing in most political systems today, but patterns of gender discrimination force women candidates to make do with more limited resources than men. According to her, financial resources often determine whose voice is loudest and most heard.
“One of the greatest hurdles women face is financing the process of getting a nomination. “Women tend to have less financial freedom, they earn disproportionately less and they tend to be kept outside of existing part establishments, resulting in limited access to their professional fundraisers and political networks.
“ Nomination costs require women to come up with funds to build name recognition, travel, attend party meetings, organise campaign teams and cultivate a constituency.
“With all these financial limitations, we will continue to have poor representation of women except women development groups that can assist to set up Political Action Committees to assist and support female candidates get sponsorships and build their own financial partnership networks,’’ she said.
Mr Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, wife of the former governor of Ekiti State, believes there is the need for a constitutional amendment that would have affirmative action and quotas for women in the polity.
“We must work toward having a legislative framework that will accommodate and stipulate the position of women in the polity, the needs and concerns of women, as well as reserve a certain number of leadership positions for women,’’ she said.
Adeleye-Fayemi also says that the few women who hold key positions by the virtue of their trail blazing appointments, selection or election, have not been able to develop agenda for change for the majority of Nigerian women.
“If you occupy a leadership position as a woman and you are unable to serve and support other women, or even leave an identifiable legacy behind when your time is done, I’m afraid you have wasted that space; be you a member of the legislature, first lady or local government chairman.
“Worse still, you have made it more difficult for another woman to be considered. With your position, you should be passionate about the issues affecting the majority of Nigerian women,’’ Adeleye-Fayemi said.
On the role of political parties, Mrs Sarah Sosan, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, says that party leaders should be held responsible for the poor number of women in government.
“I do not believe that the problem of poor representation is about finance, constitutional stipulation or support from other women.
“Our women need to hold our party leaders accountable to ensure that they support and give higher tickets or quotas to women as they do to men,’’ she said.
But Mr Abiodun Salami, Assistant Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State chapter, said that his party at its level gives 100 per cent concession to women who indicate interest to contest for any elective position.
“The women do not pay for nomination form; the forms are given out free to the women, while men pay through their nose to get their forms.
“That is APC way of encouraging more women to come out. It now depends on the women to take advantage of such concession,’’ he said.
Retired Capt. Tunji Shelle, Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also said his party recognises the important place of women and has accordingly granted them suffrage like their male counterparts.
He said that many of the women are as intelligent, vibrant and bright as the men and have proved so in various endeavours without any hindrance.
“As far as the party is concerned, everybody is a potential candidate for nomination and when the party decides who gets the ticket, we give every support and deploy every resource to ensure that the candidate, man or woman, wins the election,’’ he said.
Shelle believes that in politics, power is grabbed, not given like some who get it due to their family background and influence; and women politicians, like their male counterparts, should brace up for the challenges.
Osuizigbo is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Lucy Osuizigbo
Politics
Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Politics
10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
Politics
Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.