Analysis of Perceptions on Women Participation in Political Leadership in Nigeria

Background: The participation of women in political leadership in Nigeria is a complex and multifaceted issue. Historically, Nigerian women have played significant roles in politics, with examples of female leaders like Queens Amira, Moremi, and Emotan, who protected their kingdoms from invasions and served as political leaders in the administration of the state. However, the advent of colonialism introduced a new system of governance that restricted women's participation in politics, relegating them to the private sphere and limited their electoral job opportunities. Till date, women's participation in political leadership in Nigeria is still limited with women political representation standing at less than five percent. Objective: The study investigated the perception of Nigerian electorate on the level of accommodation of women in political leadership in the country. Method: The study adopted the mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Result: Findings show that only a small percentage of tweets were sexist with a large majority open to women engaging in leadership. Sadly this finding does not reflect the democratic reality in Nigeria as women are indeed marginalised and underrepresented in political leadership. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that there is a general perception of underrepresentation of women in political leadership in Nigeria. Unique Contribution: The study provides fresh perspectives to the understanding of the perceptions of women's participation in political leadership in Nigeria, as well as in the identification of barriers and challenges that women face in pursuing political careers. It is hoped that the new insights will benefit policy makers in promoting women's participation in political leadership and addressing the gender gap in Nigerian politics. Key Recommendation: To address these challenges, it is essential to recognize the constraints that limit women's participation and work towards dismantling them. This can be achieved by providing educational opportunities, promoting gender equality, and creating a quota for women's representation in government positions. By doing so, Nigeria can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable political system that allows women to participate fully in the political process.