Invictus Africa Urges Governors-Elect To At Least Ensure 35 % Affirmative, Condemns Dearth Of Women Representation

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

Invictus Africa has decried the marginalized representation of women in various state cabinets throughout the 36 states of the Federation between 2019 -2023.

It called the Governors-elect from the just concluded 2023 Nigeria’s general election to endeavour to correct the anomaly while constituting their various cabinets.

From the statistics released by Invictus Africa on Women Representation in African Politics (WRAPS) in respect of Nigeria, it observed that Kwara State ranks 1st with 56%; Kaduna State ranks 2nd with 53%, and Edo State ranks 3rd with 35% as each of the three states had 9, 9 and 7 women respectively in cabinets totalling 16, 17 and 20 members.

However, in Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi states which are at the bottom of the ladder, with 19, 19 and 17 cabinet members each, women had only one representative each in Katsina and Zamfara States while Kebbi state had no woman representative in its Cabinet.

In a statement, Invictus Africa stressed that the quest to ensure proportional women’s political representation is for elective and appointive positions.

According to the statement, “Kwara and Kaduna States are the only two States in Nigeria with a majority of women in their cabinets. Kebbi State ranks last with no women in its cabinet.

“Notably, only three States (Kwara, Kaduna, and Edo) meet the 35% affirmative target for women’s representation in their cabinets.

“We hope the Governors-elect will appoint more women, such that they form at least 35% of their executive councils and other appointive vacancies in their offices.”