28 WOMEN CONTESTING TO BE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA

At least, 28 women have been cleared to contest for two of the elected positions in the Presidency of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the 2018 General Elections. This was disclosed in a list released by the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC

According to an analysis of the List, (see below) at least five women (5) would be contesting for office of the President while twenty three (23) will jostle for the seat of the Vice President, two seats currently occupied by Muhammadu Buhari and Oluyemi Osinbajo both of the All Progressive Party, APC. The five women contesting for President are: Ezekwesili Obiageli Katryn, 55, of the ACPN; Angela Johnson, 59 of the AUN; Adesanya-Davies Mercy Olufunmilayo, 56  of MAJA, Rabia Yasai Hassan Cengiz, 44 of NAC and Manna Maina Kyari, 41 of the NPC. Educationally, five-some has between them two Ph.Ds (Ezekwesili Obiageli and Adesanya-Davies Olufunmilayo), a MA (Rabia Yassai) an LL.B (Angela Johnson) and a National Certificate in Education (Manna Maina).

Age-wise, the women contingent is dominated by those in their forties (2 Presidential and 13 Vice Presidential candidates) who are followed closely by the those in their fifties who dominate the Presidential column (3 Presidential and 5 Vice Presidential candidates). Women in their thirties made a historical showing by having five of their ranks advance to contest for the coveted position of the Vice President. Instructively, no woman above 59 years is contesting for the presidency in 2019 as Angela Johnson at just 59 is the oldest woman contesting. Manna Maina Kyari, 41, is the youngest woman running for any of the two elected positions in the Presidency.

Of the 23 women running for Vice President, 22 will be running with men in the Presidential slot while out of the five women running for office, four will run men in the Vice Presidential slot. Only party, NPC, will be presenting an all women Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidature for the elections compared with 44 parties presenting all male candidacies for the presidential elections.

FULL LIST OF WOMEN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT