Despite widespread awareness of their political and legal rights, women in Kaduna State continue to face significant barriers to contesting elective positions, with high nomination costs, party gatekeeping, intimidation and gender-based stigma identified as major obstacles to their political participation.
This is contained in a study titled “Study on the Reluctance of Women Running for Election/Barriers to Women’s Political Inclusion,” commissioned by the Basileia Vulnerable Persons Rights Initiative (BVPRI).
The study, conducted by Learn Legal Consult across six Local Government Areas — Igabi, Sabon Gari, Lere, Kachia, Zangon Kataf and Chikun — combined quantitative surveys with Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews.
The findings show a significant gap between women’s awareness of their civic rights and their participation as electoral candidates.
According to the report, 94.7 per cent of respondents are aware that women have the legal right to contest elections in Nigeria, while 92.1 per cent understand political participation as direct involvement in decision-making.
Although 86.8 per cent reported having voted in elections, 89.5 per cent said they had never contested an elective position.
The study identifies the cost and process of securing party nominations as one of the major barriers confronting female aspirants. About 71.1 per cent of respondents said obtaining a political party ticket is significantly more difficult for women than for men.
It further highlights the high cost of nomination forms, campaign logistics, mobilisation and other unofficial expenses as factors that disproportionately affect women, particularly those with limited access to personal financial resources and political networks.
Party gatekeeping and the dominance of male-led political structures were also identified as major challenges, with the report noting that candidate selection and delegate structures often limit women’s access to critical party decision-making processes.
In addition, 47.4 per cent of respondents said political parties do not provide meaningful financial or operational support to female candidates.
The report also raises concerns over the safety of women who participate in politics. It states that 57.9 per cent of respondents consider political participation unsafe or very unsafe, while 71.1 per cent reported experiencing or witnessing political intimidation.
Beyond financial and institutional barriers, the study identifies social stigma, character assassination and sexual harassment as further obstacles to women’s political participation.
It notes that politically active women are sometimes subjected to derogatory labels, including the term “Karuwa”, as part of attempts to question their morality and discourage them from seeking public office.
The researchers, however, observed a gradual shift in community attitudes towards women in leadership, suggesting that the central challenge is increasingly less about whether women are capable of leading and more about whether political structures can provide an environment in which they can participate safely and on equal terms.
To address the challenges, the report calls for what it describes as a Decade of Action for Women’s Political Inclusion, involving government, political parties, civil society organisations and development partners.
Among its recommendations are the introduction of affirmative action within political parties, including quotas and special provisions for women at executive and primary levels; targeted campaign financing and nomination fee waivers; stronger mechanisms for reporting and addressing harassment, intimidation and gender-based violence; and greater engagement with traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful stereotypes about women in leadership.
The report argues that sustained implementation of these measures will be necessary to move beyond short-term interventions and create a political environment in which women can participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s democratic process.