Meet the Nigerian Women Political Leaders Elected in the 2023 General Polls

Top left – Ireti Heebah Kingibe; Bottom left – Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Right – Idiat Oluranti Adebule

Although women make up 49% of Nigeria’s population, their representation in politics and governance is low, as statistics show only 6.7% of women hold positions in governance. Ahead of the Nigerian general elections in February, BellaNaija, in collaboration with UN Women and the Government of Canada, launched the Women in Politics and Governance Campaign to propel the participation of women in politics in Nigeria.

Of the record number of 1553 women who contested for positions in the 2023 elections, 72 emerged at the federal and state levels. Out of the 72 women that emerged, 7 of them were elected as deputy governors; 18 were elected to the National Assembly – 3 in the Senate and 15 in the House of Representatives. Others were elected to the various State Houses of Assembly.

Here is a list of the elected women leaders in the just concluded election:

Federal

Senators

The three elected female senators are Ipalibo Harry Banigo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who won the West senatorial district of Rivers; Ireti Heebah Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP) who won the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seat and Idiat Oluranti Adebule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who won the Lagos West senatorial seat.

House of Representatives

Others who clinched seats at the House of Representatives are Nnabuife Chinwe Clara of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) who won the Orumba North/Orumba South federal constituency of Anambra State; Orogbu Obiageli of the Labour Party (LP) who won the Awka North/Awka South federal constituency; Gwacham Maureen Chime of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who won the Oyi/Ayamelum federal constituency of Anambra; Regina Akume of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who won the Gboko/Tarka federal constituency of Benue; Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who won Ethiope East/Ethiope West constituency of Delta State; Fatima Talba of APC won Nangre/Potiskum constituency of Yobe State.

Also, Onuh Onyeche Blessing of the APC won the Otukpo/Ohimini constituency of Benue State; Ebikate Marie Enenimiete of the PDP won the Brass/Nembe constituency of Bayelsa State; Zainab Gimba of the APC won the Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge constituency of Borno State; Beni Butmak Lar of the PDP won Lantang North/Lantang South constituency of Plateau State; Chimera Blessing Amadi of the PDP won Portharcourt II constituency of Rivers State; Goodhead Boma of the PDP won Akuku Toru/Asari Toru constituency of Rivers State; Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim of the APC, who won Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/Tarmuwa constituency of Yobe State; Onuoha Miriam Odinaka of the APC won Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo constituency of Imo State; Adewunmi Ariyomi Onanuga of the APC won Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North constituency of Ogun State.

State

Deputy Governors

Seven states have female representatives as their deputy governors. They include Hadiza Balarabe of All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State; Josephine Piyo of People’s Democratic Party in Plateau State; Dr Akon Eyakenyi of People’s Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom; Dr Ngozi Nma Odu of People’s Democratic Party in Rivers; Engr Noimot Salako Oyedele of All Progressives Congress in Ogun; Patricia Obila of All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi and Professor Kaletapwa Farauta of People’s Democratic Party in Adamawa.

House of Assembly

In states, a total of 48 women made it to the various state houses of assembly.

Anambra

Nkechi Ogbuefi of the Labour Party (LP) won the Anaocha constituency in Anambra.

Enugu

In Enugu, Princess Obiajulu Ugwu won the Enugu South Constituency and Hon Jane Ene won the Udi North Constituency.

Bayelsa

Egba Ayibanegiyefa and Ebizi Ndiomu Brown were elected to represent Yenagoa Constituency l and Sagbama Constituency III in Bayelsa.

Benue

In Benue State, the elected lawmakers are Lami Danladi who won the Ado constituency and Becky Orpin also won the Gboko-East constituency.

Cross River

Rita Ayim, under the PDP, was elected to represent the Ogoja constituency.

Delta

In Delta State, Marilyn Okowa won on the platform of the PDP to represent the Ika North/East constituency, while Bridget Anyafulu was elected to represent the Oshimili South constituency.

Ekiti

Ekiti has a couple of women representatives in the House of Assembly. Bolaji Egbeyemi Olagbaju was elected to represent Ado Constituency 11, while Okuyiga Eyiyato Adeteju won for the Ayekire/Gbonyin constituency. Olowokere Bose Yinka won to represent the Efon constituency, while Ogunlade Maria Abimbola was elected to represent the Emure constituency. Also, Fakunle Okiemen Iyabo won the Ilejemeje constituency seat, while Abimbola Solanke secured the Moba 1 constituency seat.

Edo

Maria Edeko Omozele is the female member-elect in Edo State’s House of Assembly.

Oyo

In Oyo State, out of the 32 seats, Olajide Olufunke Comforter won Ibadan North 1 constituency and Bisi Oluranti Oyewo Micheal won the Ogbomoso North constituency.

Taraba

Taraba State also has two female members-elect out of 24 state assembly seats. Hajiya Batulu Muhammed from the Gashaka constituency won under All  Progressive Congress (APC), while Borinica Alhassan in the Bali constituency won the election under the PDP.

Nasarawa

In Nasarawa, Hajara Ibrahim was elected under the APC to represent Nasarawa’s central constituency.

Plateau

Two female lawmakers in Plateau State won the election into the state House of Assembly: Happiness Akawu and Salomi Tanimu won Pengana and Pankshin South constituencies all under the PDP.

Kogi

In Kogi, Comfort Ojoma Nwuchola and Omotayo Adeleye-Ishayawon of the All Progressives Congress, won to represent Ibaji and Ijumu constituencies.

Lagos

In Lagos, Mojisola Lasbat Merranda, Sangodara Mosunmola Rotimi, Princess Omolara Oyekan-Olumegbon and Osafie Foluke Stella were elected to represent Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Island I and Amuwo-Odofin 1 constituency respectively.

Kwara

Like Ekiti, Kwara has a couple of female representatives. Rukayat Shittu, Arinola Lawal, Medinat AbdulRaheem, Aishat Babatunde-Alanamu, and Mariam Aladi were elected to represent Owode/Onire, Ilorin East constituency, Lanwa/Ejidongari Ilorin North-West and Ilorin South constituencies respectively.

Akwa-Ibom

In Akwa-Ibom, four women secured seats in the House of Assembly. Selong Precious Akamba, Etim Itorobong Francis, Onofiok Kenim Victor, Ukpatu Selinah Isotuk were elected to represent Urua Offong Oruko, Uruan, Oron/Udung Uko and  Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo constituencies respectively.

Ogun

In Ogun State, Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi and Bakare Omolola Olanrewaju were elected to represent Egbado South and Ijebu Ode constituencies, respectively.

Adamawa

In Adamawa, Kate Raymond Manuno won to represent the Demsa constituency under the People’s Democratic Party.

Ondo

In Ondo, Witherspoon Atinuke Morenike, Fayemi Olawunmi Annah, and Ogunlowo Oluwaseun were elected to represent Owo Constituency I, Ilaje Constituency and Idanre constituency.

Ebonyi

Esther Agwu and Chinyere Nwagbaga were elected to represent Ohaukwu North and Ebonyi North East constituencies respectively.

Kaduna

Comfort Amwe and Munira Suleiman Tanimu Sanga won Sanga and Lere East constituencies in Kaduna.