By Peter Omopo
Ayodeji Oyekunle, a scholar on gender politics and democratic governance, has emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy remains incomplete without equal representation of women in decision-making positions. She made the statement in her paper titled “Women’s Political Participation and Representation in State Legislatures, Southwest, Nigeria”, which was made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
Oyekunle argued that for Nigeria to achieve true democratic development, women’s political participation should not be seen as an optional addition but as a crucial foundation for good governance. She highlighted that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, one of the significant contradictions in the country’s political progress has been the persistent underrepresentation of women in legislative bodies, particularly at the state level.
“The gap is not just about numbers; it speaks to the quality of democracy and national development,” Oyekunle said.
In her research, Oyekunle noted that despite women making up less than 9 percent of state legislators between 1999 and 2015, those few women who were elected had a measurable impact on legislation, underscoring the importance of their participation in the political process.
Oyekunle’s call for greater inclusion of women in politics seeks to address the ongoing gender imbalance and foster a more inclusive and representative democracy in Nigeria.
