Even though Nigerian women are just as involved in elections as men, they have very little representation in government. Some women have over the years made it into elected legislative seats, but Nigerians have never elected a female governor.
These are the women that want to change that in 2023.
Aishatu Ahmed — Adamawa State
Senator Aishatu Ahmed beat a very crowded field of challengers to win the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State. She defeated a former governor, a former EFCC chairman and a serving member of the House of Representatives to land on the ballot.
She was a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 and has been a senator since 2019.
Senator Ahmed is a favourite to win the election and become the first ever elected female governor in Nigeria.
Nnenna Lancaster-Okoro — Abia State
Nnenna Lancaster-Okoro is the governorship candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in Abia State.
She’s had unsuccessful runs in senatorial elections in 2015, 2016 and 2019 with APC and the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
She isn’t the only woman on the ballot in Abia.
Ngozi Ogbuleke — Abia State
Ngozi Ogbuleke is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abia State.
Obiang Marikane Stanley — Cross River State
Obiang Marikane Stanley is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Cross River State.
Beatrice Itubo — Rivers State
Beatrice Itubo is the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State. She beat a former member of the House of Representatives to win the party’s ticket.
Itubo is also the chairperson of the Rivers State council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Sophia Cookey — Rivers State
Sophia Cookey is the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Rivers State.
Tina Barde — Niger State
Tina Barde is the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Niger State.
Khadijat Abdullahi-Iya — Niger State
Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Niger State. She was a vice presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election on Fela Durotoye’s ticket for the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).
Sufiat Adekemi Iskil-Ogunyomi — Ogun State
Sufiat Adekemi Iskil-Ogunyomi is the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in Ogun State.
Kassim Jackie-Adunni — Ogun State
Kassim Jackie-Adunni is the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State.
She was also on the ballot for the 2019 governorship election as the candidate of the defunct United Democratic Party (UDP) but finished with 861 votes.
The 2023 general elections are expected to usher in a new direction for Nigeria, and these women could break the glass ceiling for that future. May the best woman win.
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