Democratic governance and women's representation in Nigeria's 9th House of Representatives

Abstract

Despite the constitutional guarantee of equal political rights in Nigeria, women’s representation in the 9th House of Representatives remained extremely low, raising concerns about the effectiveness of democratic governance in promoting gender inclusion. This study examined the effect of democratic governance on women’s representation in Nigeria’s 9th House of Representatives, with specific focus on inclusiveness, equality, political participation, descriptive representation, and legislative participation. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. The population comprised 547 respondents, including members of the House of Representatives, legislative aides, National Assembly Service Commission staff, National Orientation Agency officials, and selected women-focused civil society groups and media practitioners. A sample size of 277 was determined using Yamane statistical technique with an added 20% margin of safety, and stratified sampling technique was used to ensure proportional representation of all stakeholder groups. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, while data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis with SPSS version 27. Reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, while content validity was ensured through expert review. Findings revealed that inclusiveness and equality had a significant positive effect on descriptive representation of women, while political participation significantly influenced legislative participation. The study concluded that democratic governance significantly shaped both the numerical presence and active involvement of women in the legislature. It recommended stronger inclusive policies within political parties and increased civic engagement programmes to enhance women’s political participation and legislative effectiveness.