The 10th National Assembly which traditionally will be inaugurated in early June may go down as the NASS with the least number of females since the return of democracy in 1999.
This is because the February 25 presidential and National Assembly polls saw the emergence of only three women senators-elect and 13 female House of Reps-elect in the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
An examination of the list of the female senators-elect showed that all of them are new members of the Red Chamber.
The three senators-elect are Labour Party’s Kingibe Ireti Heebah, representing the Federal Capital Territory; Peoples Democratic Party’s Banigo Ipalibo Harry, representing Rivers West, and Adebule Idiat Oluranti of the All Progressives Congress representing Lagos West.
In the past National Assembly terms, women have remained consistently underrepresented.
The Ninth Assembly which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated on June 11, 2019, is already winding up its activities.
Out of Parliament’s 469 seats, 109 Senators, and 360 members of the House of Representatives, women only occupy 21 seats; eight in the Senate and 13 in the House of Representatives in the Ninth Assembly.
The transition to the 4th republic in May 29, 1999 ushered in democracy and with it a new constitution, under which the current National Gender policy was promulgated.
This policy recommends that women be represented by at least 35% in both elected and appointed public service positions. One of such key offices is the National Assembly.
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The 13 females for 10th House of Representatives are as follow:
1. Orogbu Obiageli – LP, Awka North/Awka South Federal Constituency
2. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara – YPP, Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency
3. Gwacham Mauren Chinwe – APGA, Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency
4. Ebikake Marie Enenimiete – PDP, Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency
5. Akume Regina – APC, Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency
6. Onuh Onyeche Blessing – APC, Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency
7. Zainab Gimba – APC, Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency
8. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake – PDP, Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency
9. Onuoha Miriam Odinaka – APC, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe, Onuimo Federal Constituency
10. Beni Butmak Lar – PDP, Langtang North, Langtang South Federal Constituency
11. Goodhead Boma – PDP, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru Federal Constituency
12. Bukar Abba Ibrahim Khadijah Waziri – APC, Damaturu, Gujuba, Gulani, Tarmuwa Federal Constituency
13. Fatima Talba – APC, Nangere Potiskum Federal Constituency
