Rights of Women and Political Office in Nigeria

Abstract

The article examined that in the light of the 3rd millennium the Nigerian woman is still debased by some practices that invariably hinder her attainment to the highest political office in Nigeria. The practices include but not limited to the setting up of different laws for men and women under the Sharia Penal Code, the requirement of a written consent from the husband of a woman to obtain her international passport, the illicit trade in women as abound in most parts of Nigeria, the Igbo customary law of inheritance based on the principle of primogeniture as in other parts of Nigeria, and lack of access to courts by the rural women majority. Books, articles in journals, newspapers, unpublished materials and relevant internet materials have been utilized. The Nigerian environment is fraught with cultural, institutional and legal constraints that limit the potencies of the Nigerian Women. This is in spite of the fact that her contributions to the Social, economic, cultural and political sphere of Nigeria has been enormous, amidst her negatively prevailing environment against the backdrop of changes taking place in the global world. Reservations of certain elective post and affirmative action as is been done in certain parts of the globe remains a viable option for the enhancement of the political aspirations of the Nigerian Women.