Ahead of 2023 gubernatorial elections, women are unrelenting in their efforts to ensure their place in the state polity and governance is secured. They have ascended and gate-crashed into the male-dominated political terrain.
There has been an age-long debate on improved inclusion of women in politics and leadership positions but interestingly, in over Nigeria’s 60 years as an independent country, no woman has ever attained the position of president, vice-president.
However, quite a number of women have been opportuned to occupy the position of deputy governor in some states across the country. Women occupying the deputy governorship position have, however, over the years proved otherwise by conceiving and birthing pro-developmental initiatives.
Here’s a list of female running mates:
Rivers: In Rivers State, a former commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Odu is the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP while Tonto Dikeh, a Nollywood actress, is the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Also, Princess Tambari Hilda Dedam is the deputy governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP) in Rivers State.
Lagos: In Lagos State, the PDP governorship candidate Dr. Olajide Adediran, unveiled Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Kaduna: In Kaduna, the APC governorship candidate, Sen Uba Sani, re-selected the incumbent deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, as his running mate in the 2023 polls.
Ogun: In Ogun State, some of the female deputy governorship candidates are Olatunji Suliat Nike of ADC; Olaniyo Olubukola Iyabode of AAC; Oseni Oluronke Mishozunu of ADP and Oyewale Modupe Olayinka of the Accord Party.
The two political parties fielded women as deputy governorship candidates. While the incumbent deputy governor, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele is still paired with her principal, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on the platform of the APC, the Labour Party (LP) has elected Dr Aishat Lawal-Keshinro to pair with its gubernatorial candidate, Kehinde Shogunle, in the election.
Plateau: In Plateau, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Caleb Mutfwang, picked Josephine Chundung Piyo as his running mate.
Niger: In Niger State, the deputy governorship candidate of SDP Umar Rakiya, is a woman.
Adamawa: In Adamawa, Prof Kaleptapwa Farauta, is the female deputy governorship candidate of PDP in the state.
Abia: In Abia State, Ifeoma Okoya Thomas will run as the deputy governorship candidate to Chief Chibuikem Jonas on the platform of African Democratic Party (ADP).
Enugu: In Enugu State, there is only one female running mate, Dr. Mrs Edith Ugwuanyi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Sokoto: In Sokoto State, two women are listed as deputy governorship candidates. They are Hauwa’u Bello, running mate to Abubakar Haruna of Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Hannatu Muhtar, running mate to Abba Sidi Ahmed of the Action People’s Party (APP).
Cross River: Mrs. Emana Ambrose Amahwe is the running mate to Cross River State PDP governorship candidate, Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor.
Also, the governorship candidate of PRP, Usani Usani, who was former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, picked Mrs Arit Bassey Nsan as his running mate.
Ebonyi: In Ebonyi, Mrs Patricia Obila was picked as the deputy governorship candidate of APC by the candidate, Hon Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru, who is the current Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
Delta: In Delta, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the state, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, picked Mrs Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, as his running mate for the 2023 election. Gbagi’s SDP is the only party having a woman as running mate in the state.
Akwa Ibom: In Akwa Ibom, the PDP has a female running mate, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who will pair the party’s governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, for the 2023 poll.
The African Action Congress (AAC) in Akwa Ibom State nominated actress, Caroline Danjuma, as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Iboro Otu, for the 2023 election
(THENATION)
