By Muheeb Mashood
Under the outshine of the sun at Tasha Aliu market, one of the motor parks situated in Sokoto, North West Nigeria, four students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto were parading the marketers’ stores campaigning and conversing exclusively with them about their basic rights to them.
“Protecting Civic Space” is a program organized by the caliphate law clinic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto in collaboration with the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI -NIGERIA).
The program was aimed at creating substantive awareness about the fundamental human rights and freedoms of speech through enlightenment about the importance of women’s inclusion in political participation.
“As women, you have the right without denial from anybody to participate in political activities in Nigeria. You also have the liberty to cast your vote during the election, the same way, you’re eligible to contest for a post”, Jamiu Luqman Akanbi, one of the law students partaking in the campaigning revealed to the market women.
Two of the market women Fatimah and Sadia who preferred to use pseudonyms for identity purposes conferred their interest in the enlightenment, imploring more on women’s participation and rights in politics.
“There are several channels that you can seek redress against infringement of these basic rights if it was contravened by any person or authority”, Luqman told The News Digest.
Upon sensing the prevalence of the Enlightenment, the two women diversified the campaigning to an interactive session of inquiries.
The plight of female participation in Nigeria’s Political System; The Trial of Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan
Sadia, one of the market women, condemned the partiality of women’s participation in politics. She frowns at the sterility placed on gender stereotypes when it comes to policies
“In the case of Natasha in Kogi state. She won the election but didn’t want to be given the post. Why? Because she’s a female, and considered not fit for the position.”
Like Sadia, Fatimah supported the disposition juxtaposed by her friend. She was disappointed about the plight of women in Nigerian society. She expressed delight whenever she appeared in the mood of political apathy during an election or any other political-related issues.
“I would rather save my energy, money, and health to vote during an election. In the end, their favorite candidate will win the polls,” She resorted.
Statistics show that the national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria has remained at 6.7 percent in elective and appointive positions, which is far below the Global Average of 22.5 percent, Africa Regional Average of 23.4 percent, and West African Sub Regional Average of 15 percent. For instance, out of the 36 recently confirmed ministerial appointments by the administration now in power, only six (6) are women, representing 16.7 percent.
In the National Assembly, women constitute 5.6 percent of members of the House of Representatives and 6.5 percent of the Senators. Also with the fifteen years of uninterrupted democratic governance (1999-2015), Nigeria is yet to produce a female governor in any of the 36 states of the Federation.
The above figure as argued by Mrs. Oloyede Oluyemi in a paper presented by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, Abuja, Nigeria) is a testament to the social settings of Nigeria and its past experiences; before, during, and after colonial rule.
“The under-representation of women in political participation gained root due to the patriarchal practice inherent in our society, much of which was obvious from the pre-colonial era till date,” he said.
How Natasha Reclaims Her Victory
Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan rightfully and lawfully exercised her political rights when she was subjected to gender inequality, bias, and election fraud during the February 25 Kogi Central senatorial election.
Mrs. Natasha initially raised public awareness, when she condemned the Kogi Central election as a sham, undemocratic, and barbaric before she undertook legal action which was reported in Premium Times Newsline.
It reads, “I will say the entire election in Kogi Central is a sham, I find it quite barbaric and undemocratic… I will pretty much say 90 percent of the polling unit had no elections but surprisingly results came out of them.”
After associating the election with various misconducts, she rejected the initial results declared by the returning officer as she insisted on her victory. However, she proceeded to court after the failure of INEC to correct its error.
Following months of reviewing and resolving the legal actions in her favor, she was finally declared the winner of the senatorial central election by the panel of the Kogi State election Tribunal in September 2023.
The three-member panel led by K.A Orjiako announced that Natasha validly polled 54,074, a larger figure than the 51,291 polled by her opponent. Thus, declared as the senator-elect to represent her district in the National Assembly.
While delivering its judgment, the panel scolded INEC for their gross and illegal misconduct, and for being unprofessional.
What Law Says about Fundamental Rights
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria enshrined and guaranteed freedom from discrimination as a potent weapon of the right to political participation _ the fundamental right of Nigerians.
This was spelled out in section 42 which reads: “42 (1) a citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
“(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
“(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.”
Section 46 went further to provide for remedies against the violation of these rights. And also laid down channels to oversee complaints about matters arising from these rights.
“We must continue to encourage people to engage in the system, no matter how bad it is” – The project supervisor Says
“We must Advocate Civic Right” Says, Uwais Abdulrahman
Uwais Abdulrahman, the project supervisor of the ‘Protecting Civic Space’ at the NULAI-Nigeria identified continuous, numerous engagements as well as informing people about their fundamental rights through enlightenment, encouragement, and support as a way out from the deadlock.
In his words: “We must continue to encourage people to engage in the system, no matter how bad it is. Because, the more we engage in the system, the more we improve on it.
“And if there are situations where people strongly feel they have wronged, that’s where we will enlighten them about various mechanisms to get remedy.”
While speaking about several alternatives to seek redress aside from court. He emphasized the need for concerned bodies to target people at the grassroots in their program.
Mr. Uwais identified direct complaints to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRS), Fundamental Right Enforcement Agency (FREA), and NULAI – Nigeria among others as more lenient channels to get remedies. Also, he mentioned that bodies like the Caliphate Law Clinic (CLC) offer legal aid at the grassroots.