GENDER INEQUALITY AND WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIAN POLITICS (2015-2023)

ABSTRACT The study examined the perceived gender inequality and women participation in politics in Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the role played by women in politics in Nigeria; examine the barriers to women participation in politics in Nigeria and examine effort made by government towards women participation in politics in Nigeria. The survey research design was used to get suitable information from the study area. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentage tables. The findings found that women tend to dominate the political hierarchy and are at advantage in influencing the party's internal politics as well as public leadership positions occupiedI by women demonstrates marginalization which affects their meaningful contributions to the political process. The study further revealed that few women occupied the Federal House of Representativese.g. Kadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim Yobe Central. It also showed that women have won the seats of senate e.g.Grace Bent in Adamawa South. The study revealed that some Nigerian cultural belief system prohibit women to participate in politics. The study further revealed that womnen feel inferior to participate in politics, the women are meant to wait to be informed or instructed before they can act or participate in politics and some women are not allowed by their husbands to participate in politics. The result further indicated that some political parties encourages women to participation in politics by giving free ticket to contest a political position. The study showed that government has implemented laws on gender equality to encourage women participation in politics. The study recommended that government should criminalise men that infringe the right of women to participate politics