Women's political marginalization in Nigeria a political analysis of representation during the fourth republic

Abstract

Women aspiring to political leadership often faced unique challenges, including heightened public scrutiny and unrealistic expectations compared to their male counterparts. The study examined women's political under-representation in Nigeria's Fourth Republic (1999–2025). It aimed to examine the effect and nature of women's Parliamentary representation, appraise the implications of their marginalization, and assess its impact. The study population comprised 620 officials from key political and administrative institutions relevant to women's political participation in Nigeria. This study employed a mixed-methods design, integrating both survey and descriptive strategies. The descriptive design provided a qualitative framework for in-depth exploration of complex issues. This combined approach was appropriate for gathering broad perspectives through questionnaires while also capturing detailed, expert insights through interviews, thereby offering a comprehensive understanding of women's political participation in Nigeria. The sample size was determined using the Taro Yamane (1967) formula for a finite population with a 3% margin of error. Therefore, a minimum sample size of 400 was targeted (collecting data from 400 respondents via questionnaires and 20 interviews). The findings revealed that 85% of respondents perceived women's representation as ineffective. The nature of participation was peripheral, with only 20% contesting elections. The primary implication was significant voter apathy (45%), and 45% cited structural barriers as limiting women's impact. A Chi-square test confirmed a significant relationship between marginalization and participation (χ²=12.34, p<0.05). The study concluded by affirming that the under-representation of women in the Nigerian Parliament was not an accidental outcome but a direct result of an entrenched patriarchal system. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, the practical experience for women was one of systemic exclusion.