Gender, Power, and Political Representation: Women and the Dynamics of Governance in the Nigerian Fourth Republic (1999-2023)

Abstract

This paper explores gender, power, and political representation in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria
(1999-2023), particularly the underrepresentation of women in politics. The study is based on Feminist
Institutionalism and political representation theory and has a mixed-method (hybrid) design,
comprising a quantitative longitudinal analysis of electoral data and qualitative information from
existing literature and policy reports based on interviews. The results indicate that being
underrepresented in Nigeria is not just a matter of low participation of women but the structural nature
of political institutions. There is quantitative evidence of a variable, but overall low female
representation in the National Assembly, and a significant decrease in the 2023 elections. The
qualitative analysis also proves that the exclusion is practised by means of party gatekeeping, financial
scarcity, and established patriarchal standards that tend to restrict women's access to the space of
candidacy and decision-making. It is also determined that the substantive representation is limited by
low descriptive representation, which undermines the democratic inclusiveness and responsiveness of
policies. The research concludes that the democratic process in Nigeria is a paradox: elections continue
without gender-equal governance. It suggests reforms in institutions, such as gender quotas, party
restructuring, and socio-cultural change, as ways to achieve political representation.