WOMEN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN LEGISLATIVE ARM OF GOVERNMENT IN YOBE STATE

Women participation and representation in politics and governance has been worrisome over the years. Women constitute a greater number of registered voters in Nigeria. Despite the fact that they are yet to experience full representation into political position. More so, in spite of United Nation (UN) and other international Organization advocacy and declaration of the right and equality between men and women of which Nigeria is a signatory, women still constitute a small percent of those participating in political decisions and leadership, specifically in legislative position at both State and National levels. Based on these, the paper seeks to unveil the challenges Nigerian women face as a result of under-representation in politics and governance in Yobe State. The study is a content analysis which utilized secondary data consisting of journal, articles, documents from UN and other Non-governmental organizations in making analysis and drawing conclusions. The study found that the factors affecting women participation in politics include the patriarchal nature of Nigerian society, lack of finance, culture/religion, political party discrimination, violence amongst others. These factors hinder women from participating and contributing their quota to national development of their fatherland. It concludes that gender parity in the parliament is essential for promoting women's right and supporting women voices in Yobe State. The study therefore recommends that there should be inclusion of women in political activities and allocation of political positions through quota system; Political parties should subsidies nomination forms for women to contest political positions and there should be public enlightenment and sensitization on negative stereotype which the society tag women who engage in politics.