Today’s governorship election in Anambra State has again reinforced the poor participation of women in political activities in Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list of 18 candidates vying for the Awka Government House seat is strictly male-dominated, leaving just a paltry 1.26 per cent for females to compete as running mates.

This development is completely at variance with efforts to encourage the development and input of women in politics and governance as they have been historically sidelined in political activities and appointments.

Interestingly, Anambra State produced the first female governor in the country through Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba, though she lasted for only three months in office before resuming her old position – deputy governor.

No fewer than 2.5 million registered voters are expected to file out today to elect a new governor for the state from the 5,640 polling units scattered across the 326 electoral wards, 179 communities, 21 LGAs and three Senatorial zones of the state.

In its final list for the election candidates released, INEC listed 18 males and also published seven females as running mates of seven parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and three others.

Curiously, Mrs. Ifeoma Maduka-Arisa and Mrs. Adaobi Uchenna Okpeke, who earlier emerged standard flag bearers of Action Alliance (AA) and National Redemption Movement (NRM) respectively were substituted with male candidates for reasons best known to their parties.

Although Mrs. Maduka-Arisa insisted on her candidature with the leadership of the AA and even contemplated legal actions, the party stuck with Ben Chukwuogo Etiaba, the son of the first female governor of the state, Dame Virgy Etiaba, as its candidate.

The development is a striking decline compared to the last governorship election in the state in 2017 when five women contested for the post. Similarly, eight women contested for the deputy governorship post in 2017.