By some estimates, men hold up to 90 percent of the elected and appointed government positions in Nigeria. Since 2007, when 26 women held position in the House of Representatives, the number of women has fallen to just 12 in 2011. Gender disparity is even worse in state-level assemblies. Parties such as the ruling People’s Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, and others should urge women to run for office and invite voters to participate in transparent, competitive primaries before the 2015 elections.
This will help keep access to education and other challenges facing girls high on the political agenda, and it will send a clear signal that Boko Haram’s message about women is very far from the mainstream.
