The Nigeria’s Political Culture and the Quest for Gender Mainstreaming: Exploring the Scenario of the 2023 General Elections

Abstract

Political culture reflects people’s behavioural act towards political phenomenon, particularly in a democratic atmosphere. However, African political culture is largely influenced by primordial sentiments as majority of the electorates voting pattern devoid issues based. The effect of such political culture reflects in patriarchy system that recognises male dominance. This makes it imperative in this study to examine Nigeria’s political culture vis a vis gender mainstreaming with much emphasis on the 2023 general election. With the adoption of cultural theory, the study explains how shared values shape political behaviour. It is a qualitative research that utilises secondary data in explaining the subject matter. The paper reveals that since Nigeria’s return to democratic dispensation in 1999, women voting strength increases but their numbers in key elective offices reduce. Such findings expose how achieving gender mainstreaming within the Nigeria’s political space is becoming more of a mirage. The study recommends introduction of act of parliament that would accommodate reasonable number for women political representation across the country. With this, their quota would not be robbed as it becomes legal matter and enhances an avenue to improve women partisanship in Nigeria’s democratisation.