Edo Assembly race exposes stark gender gap as men dominate

By Usman Aliyu

Men account for more than 90 per cent of candidates seeking election to the Edo State House of Assembly, while women constitute less than 10 per cent, highlighting a significant gender imbalance in the legislative contest.

An analysis of the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday in Benin shows that 164 candidates will contest the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 148 of the candidates are men, representing 90.24 per cent, while only 16 are women, accounting for 9.76 per cent.

These figures translate to an approximate male-to-female ratio of 9:1, underscoring the limited presence of women among those seeking to represent the state’s 24 constituencies in the legislature.

The disparity raises questions about women’s access to elective office, political parties’ commitment to inclusive representation and the persistent barriers confronting female aspirants in Nigeria’s political system.

Among the female candidates on the list are Memo Akerele of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), contesting in Akoko Edo I at 30; Elizabeth Dauda of the Labour Party (LP), Akoko Edo II, aged 51; and Negbedion Shirley of the SDP, Esan North East I, aged 33.

Others include Maria Edeko of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Esan North East II, aged 63; Mercy Bello of the African Action Congress (AAC), Etsako West I, aged 37; and Salamatu Izuagie of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also contesting in Etsako West I, aged 63.

Egor Constituency has several female candidates on the list, including Bukky Ayetan of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), aged 30; Bridget Obakpolor of the LP, aged 54; Natasha Osawaru of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), aged 32; and Imuetinyan Bright of the SDP, aged 45.

Other female candidates include Osarenkhoe Erhunmwunse and Tracy Ogiemwonyi in Ikpoba-Okha Constituency; Patience Edobor and Helen Omorogbe in Orhionmwon Constituency I; Uyigue Efosa in Ovia North East Constituency I; and Omosede Adenomo in Ovia South West Constituency.

Despite the participation of these women, the figures show that they remain a small minority in the race, potentially limiting their representation in the next Assembly if the imbalance is reflected in the election results.

Beyond gender, the candidate list features aspirants from different age groups, ranging from young contenders to candidates in their sixties.

Idriss Idriss of the SDP, contesting in Etsako West Constituency II at 26, is the youngest candidate on the list.

Other young aspirants include Johnson Ipeshi of the SDP in Akoko Edo Constituency II, aged 28; Odia Godwin of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Esan South East Constituency, aged 29; and Patience Edobor of the ADP, Orhionmwon Constituency I, also aged 29.

NAN observes that their participation reflects the interest of younger Nigerians in elective politics, following years of advocacy for greater youth inclusion, including the Not Too Young To Run movement.

At the other end of the age spectrum, older candidates are also seeking legislative seats.

Nosakhare Igbinedion of the Action Peoples Party (APP), contesting in Orhionmwon Constituency II, is 66, while Helen Omorogbe of the APP, Orhionmwon Constituency I, is 65.

Meanwhile, the candidate list features a broad range of political parties, including the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside the SDP, LP, ADC, ADP, NDC, APP, YPP, AAC, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Alliance (AA) and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

The range of parties reflects participation beyond the country’s two dominant political platforms.

In terms of educational background, the candidates’ qualifications range from basic school-leaving certificates and the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination to university degrees, postgraduate qualifications and professional credentials.

The list includes BSc, BEd, BEng, HND, LLB, MSc and MBA qualifications. Oyairo John Nosakhare, listed under the SDP in Orhionmwon Constituency, is identified as holding a PhD.

The Persons with Disabilities (PWD) column records “None” for every candidate on the list, indicating that no candidate with a disability is listed as contesting in the state Assembly election.

(NAN)