[01] G. S. Mmaduabuchi Okeke, Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos.

Women participation in politics has been an issue of outstanding public interest for quite some time now. The need to revisit this contentious issue, from scholarly perspective, arose because of the need to correct a certain perception that women participation in politics, particularly in Nigeria, could only be made possible if they occupy appointive or elective offices. The paper makes an analysis of extant literature and examines the historical trajectory of women representation, and how they have been marginalized in the process; from the state-centrist, pluralist and Marxist orientations to comparative approach that examines institutions and strategies. We interrogate whether or not it is a democratic imperative and explores other alternatives of participating in politics, since political participation does not necessarily entail holding elective or appointive public offices, for which the Nigerian women have persistently asked for 35 per cent, as there are other avenues for participating in politics or ventilating political opinions. The paper recognizes that there are obvious inhibitions to women representation in the public space, some of which are self-inflicted. It was discovered that the general trend and international best practice, point to gender mainstreaming, which encourages gender parity in the public space. In the light of this the paper suggests far reaching palliatives on the way forward.

Women, Participation, Politics, Representation, Democracy, Nigeria

[01] Agomo, C.K. ‘Foreward’, in Akiyode-Afolabi and Odemwingie (Eds.) (2008) Gender Audit 2007 Election and Issues in Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria(11). Lagos: WARDC and Heinrich Boell Foundation [02] Ahmed, D.A.A., (2009) “Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa”. Gulf Edition, Bahrain: Freedom House [03] Akiyode-Afolabi, A., “Examining the Political Space for Women in 2007 Elections and Beyond”, in Akiyode-Afolabi, A. and Odemwingie, O. (Eds.) (2008) Gender Audit 2007 Election and Issues in Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria (11). Lagos: WARDC and Heinrich Boell Foundation [04] Aluko, M.A.O. and Ajani, O.A., “Factors Militating Against Women Participation in politics in Nigeria”, in Oyekanmi, F.A.D. and Soyombo, O. (Eds.) (2008) Society and Governance: The Quest for Legitimacy in Nigeria. Lagos: Department of Sociology, University of Lagos [05] 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2008. [06] Barnes, S., and Kaase, M., et al (1979) Political Action: Mass Participation in Five Western Democracies. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage [07] Bello, C.R., (2003) “Overview: Human Rights Mechanisms, Facts and Figures, additional Resources. Women and Political Participation – Association for Women’s Rights in Development. Available on the Internet @ http://www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org/beijing12/03_1201_wip.htm; assessed on July 12, 2010. [08] Chinweizu (1990) Anatomy of Female Power: A Masculinist Dissection of Matriarchy. Lagos: Pero Press. [09] Dahl, R. (1971) Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven: Connecticut: Yale University Press. [10] Easton, D. (1961) A Framework for Political Analysis. New Haven: Yale University Press. [11] Green, J. (ed.) (1988) Says Who? Harlow, U.K.: Longman, cited in Chinweizu (1990) Anatomy of Female Power: A Masculinist Dissection of Matriarchy. Lagos: Pero Press. [12] Hanisch, C. “Men’s Liberation”, in Redstockings (Ed.) (1978) Feminist revolution. New York: Random House [13] Henderson, S. (2005) “Women in Gulf Politics: A progress Report”. Policy Watch, 1008. Washington: Gulf and Energy Policy program, the Washington Institute. [14] IPU, 1997, in IPU (1999) Participation of Women in Political Life. Series “Report and Documents” No. 35, Geneva [15] Krause, W. (2009) “Gender and Participation in the Arab Gulf”. Kuwait Programme on Development, Governance, and Globalization in the Gulf States, the Centre for the Study of Global Governance, September 2009, No. 4. Also available on the internet @www.lse.ac.uk/LSEKP/. Retrieved: 13 June, 2013. [16] Parry G., Moyser, G., and Day, N., (1992) Political Participation and Democracy in Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [17] Lazarsfeld, et al (1944) The People’s Choice: How the Voter Makes Up His Mind in a Presidential Campaign. New York: Colombia University Press. [18] Moyser, G., “Political Participation”, in Axtmann, R., (Ed) (2003), Understanding Democratic Politics: An Introduction. London: Sage Publications. [19] Ola-Aluko, Y.A. and Edewor, P.A., “Women, Culture and the African Society”, in Akintunde, D. and Labeodan, H (Eds.) (2002) Women and the Culture of Violence in Traditional Africa. Ibadan: Sefer Books Ltd. [20] Rai, S.M. “Women and Political Representation”, in Desai, V. and Potter, R. B., (Eds. 2nd Ed.) (2008) The Companion to Development Studies. UK: Hodder Education. [21] Ray, J. L. (1995) Democracy and International Conflict: An Evaluation of the Democratic Peace Proposition. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. [22] Staudt, K., “Women and the State”, in Desai, V. and Potter, R. B. (Eds. 2nd Ed.) (2008) The Companion to Development Studies. UK: Hodder Education [23] Tannahill, R. (1981) Sex in History. New York: Stein and Day Publishers. [24] Verba, S., and Nie, N., (1972) Participation in America: Political Democracy and Social Equality. New York: Harper and Row.