Ahead of the 2023 general election and the release of the electoral timetable, everyone is anxiously waiting for an amended electoral law to herald the process of credible polls.
For the umpteenth time, the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari are passing the buck over what they consider contentious in the 2022 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, to entrench patriarchy.
The recurring issues have been violence, the selection process, monetisation of the electoral process, litigation arising from the process, non-inclusion of women, absence of a level-playing ground, electronic voting, bribery of delegates, vote-buying, powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission amongst others.
However, the National Assembly which has 451 male lawmakers has foisted the mode of primaries on us, as though it was the only concern.
For months running, there has been an endless debate over the validity of direct and indirect primaries, as well as the adoption of consensus candidates. A process that empowers political parties and the powerbrokers to be demi-gods. The lawmakers apparently are not bothered that the National Assembly has a near no-female presence!
The absence of a gender quota system is a pointer that the lawmakers are perpetrating patriarchy or how else can I explain the efforts to keep out the inclusion of women in governance?
Gender quota in politics is also named “electoral gender quotas”. According to Wikipedia, a gender quota “is a tool used by countries and parties to increase women’s representation in the legislature”. The three main types of gender quotas are legislated candidate quotas, legislated reserved seats, and voluntary political party quotas.
Currently, it has been adopted in 132 countries to bridge the gap of female under-representation, with countries like Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates, leading the pack with buoyant economies following.
Others are Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Mexico, Sweden, Grenada, Andorra, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lesotho, South Africa, Liberia, Lesotho, amongst others.
Legislated candidate quotas provide through constitutions, electoral, or party laws, that a minimum number of candidates are women (or of the under-represented sex). This type of quota is usually a binding form of candidate quota for all parties that intend to contest parliamentary seats.
Legislated candidate quotas give the state the opportunity to enforce sanctions to compel political parties to abide by the adopted standard.
Legislated reserved seats regulate the minimum number of women or candidates of under-represented sex to be included on candidate lists, reserved seats stipulate the number of women or representatives of under-represented sex to be elected to legislative bodies.
While voluntary party candidate quotas for women are targets set by political parties to include a certain percentage of women as election candidates.
Since 2021 when the Electoral Act was resurrected for hearing, the lawmakers made it seem the law was to address issues that will aid their return to elective positions while no conscious effort made to address burning national issues like the under-representation of women.
After weeks of debates over assent of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, it has become obvious that the concern has been how to entrench concerns that enrich persons and political parties and not how to improve lives, which successive political office holders have sworn to uphold.
The real issue is the transparency and credibility of the process whether it is direct or indirect primary. Other weightier issues that need to be addressed by political parties include internal democracy, a transparent process where members and structures of the party take decisions without imposition, and conducting party matters without resorting to thuggery and violence.
The Electoral Act fails to acknowledge that women are grossly under-represented in issues that affect their lives even when we make up 49 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
The newly approved campaign spending threshold to a minimum of N50 million and N15 billion is nothing short of gender-based violence against women in another form. How many women can muster such a financial war chest after years of discrimination, violence, and lack of opportunities?
The Electoral Act has failed to address religion, culture, tradition, finances, and practices that have subdued women since the inception of the country. This is condemnable.
We cannot pretend to be unaware of the challenges foisted on women by society, culture, religion, and even tribe.
Some people erroneously assume it is evil as a woman to seek elective positions no matter how laudable it seems, which probably explains why some men will dare to contest the position of women leader of political parties.
Even the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, has a gender policy that demonstrates the commission’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive participation of all, irrespective of gender, both within the commission and in the wider political system. However, it should be amended to provide answers to the many years of promises of female inclusion by successive governments.
The absence of a gender quota system is skewed to entrench patriarchy and there appears to be no end in sight, and the Nigerian Feminist Forum demands action to correct the narratives.
Political parties should be compelled to field at least 40 per cent, women, for the general election especially the top-rated to ensure female inclusion and not just adorn colourful uniforms with headgear singing meaningless praises during party activities.
The positive impact of women in politics is undeniable. Kofi Annan once said, “Study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity or to reduce child and maternal mortality. No other policy is as sure to improve nutrition and promote health, including the prevention of HIV/AIDS. No other policy is as powerful in increasing the chances of education for the next generation.”
To address years of child marriage, rape, insurgency, the near absence of healthcare delivery, obnoxious customs, and traditions, workplace discriminations, and entrenched patriarchal practices, a gender quota system is the answer.
Gender-based violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial, or structural perpetrated by family, relations, acquaintances, institutions, and even strangers, with women at the receiving end.
An Electoral Act must address the inclusion of women in all decision-making processes in the country. Enough promises, we demand action, we demand the gender quota system to guarantee the aspirations of the over 100 million women and girls out of the 211 million population.
The absence of an Affirmative Action denies Nigerian women political participation while we continue to suffer endless forms of abuse and discrimination.
Beyond rhetoric, to address the near absence of female inclusion, Nigeria needs to transform policy and legal frameworks for gender sensitivity through the inclusion of affirmative action on women’s participation and representation in politics and governance institutions.
Inclusion of gender quota in the Electoral Act will ensure political parties field women constitutionally with enshrined quota.
Isn’t it ironic and worrisome that during the 2019 general election, Nigerian women who made up 49 per cent of the country’s population formed long queues despite the scorching sun and cast the majority of votes occupy a paltry 67 seats out of 1,478, with none as President, Vice President, or governor?
Of the 2,970 women who stood for elections, a paltry 67 were elected, with four elected as deputy governors, seven as senators, 12 as House of Representatives members, 44 into state Houses of Assembly, and 11 states without a female member!
Yet, women form over 100 million out of the 211 million Nigerian population and are more in number in any given state.
An Electoral Act devoid of at least 40 per cent gender quota strictly for women is defective and should be amended to reflect the involvement of over 100 million people out of the 211 million Nigerian population.
The National Assembly and President Buhari should rewrite history for all times, include a gender quota system to end the cries of women and girls and to entrench democracy for all.
Nigerian women demand an end to patriarchy; we demand inclusion in all spaces now.
Nkwo is the Communications Officer of the Nigerian Feminist Forum
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
