27 women among 317 Kaduna assembly candidates
Twenty-seven women are among 317 candidates contesting seats in the Kaduna State House of Assembly in the 2027 elections, representing about 8.5 per cent of the total.
The final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and signed by its secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, shows that female candidates are contesting in 18 of Kaduna State’s 34 constituencies.
Jema’a and Kaura have the highest number of female candidates, with four each.
In Jema’a, the candidates are Deborah Adamu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Alice Maikarfi of the African Democratic Congress, Rhoda Baton of the National Democratic Party and Happiness Musa of the National Rescue Movement.
In Kaura, the four women are Elizabeth Dauda of the ADP, Tabita Jonathan of the NRM, Laitu Bonet of the Peoples Redemption Party and Lois Joshua of the Young Progressives Party.
Chikun I and Ikara have two female candidates each. Janet Ayuba of the Social Democratic Party and Isabella Alkali of the Zenith Labour Party are contesting in Chikun I, while Hafsat Isah of the ADP and Zainab Bawa of the NRM are contesting in Ikara.
Jaba also has two women among 12 candidates: Hilda Daniel of the ADP and Rebecca Dachep of the Labour Party.
In other constituencies, women are contesting as sole female candidates on the lists provided. They include Blessing Solomon of the ADP in Kajuru, Aishatu Inze of the SDP in Sanga, Evelyn Daniel of the ADP in Kachia, Ruth Yakubu of the Labour Party in Kagarko and Fauziyah Isah of the ADP in Kawo.
Others are Khadija Abdullahi of the Young Progressives Party in Doka/Gabasawa, Tabitha Timothy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Chawai/Kauru, Deborah Musa of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Lere West and Munira Tanimu Suleiman of the All Progressives Congress in Saminaka, also listed as Lere East.
Halima Salisu of the SDP is the sole female candidate in Basawa, while Deborah Musa of the YPP is listed in Zangon Kataf. Gladys Ibrahim of the ADP is the only woman among eight candidates in Zonkwa, while Aisha Akilu of the SDP is the sole female candidate in Zaria City.
The figures indicate that women account for a small proportion of candidates seeking seats in the Kaduna Assembly ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, political campaigns are yet to commence in earnest in Kaduna, as members of the ruling APC prepare for the formal inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign scheduled for October 24.
