UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 5 AND GENDER EQUALITY IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL OF WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION (2015–2024)

Abstract This study examines the patterns and barriers to women’s political participation in Nigeria from 2015 to 2024, with particular attention to the role of patriarchal structures in shaping electoral and institutional outcomes. Anchored in the Critical Mass Theory, the research explores whether Nigeria has approached the minimum 30% threshold necessary for women to exert substantial influence in governance. Utilizing a qualitative, descriptive approach, data were drawn from electoral records, policy documents, media reports, and scholarly publications. Findings reveal that despite incremental gains, women’s representation in elective offices has remained critically low, never exceeding 8.1% in the National Assembly during the studied period. No woman was elected governor, and female political presence at state and local levels was equally minimal. The study attributes this underrepresentation to entrenched patriarchal norms, socio-cultural resistance, and institutional exclusion within political parties and electoral systems. Legal instruments such as the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill remain unenforced, reflecting structural inertia. The study also highlights the rise of digital feminist activism and civil society engagement, which have helped amplify the visibility of women in politics through campaigns like #WeAreAllNatasha and Nigeria Women Lead. However, these efforts have yet to dismantle the systemic forces limiting female participation. The research concludes that without enforced gender quotas, comprehensive legal reforms, and sustained public advocacy, women’s political empowerment in Nigeria will remain symbolic rather than transformative. Keywords: Women in politics, Nigeria, Critical Mass Theory, gender quotas, patriarchy, political participation, gender equality, electoral reform.