Women in Politics: Nigeria’s political structure not built for women — Adeola Azeez

By Ebunoluwa Sessou As Nigeria prepares for another general election in 2027, the question of women’s participation in politics and access to elective offices remains a subject for debate. Read Also: Elections: INEC struggles to get 14m PVCs to voters Adeola Azeez, a daughter of the late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and one of the Founders of Women in Management, Business & Public Service, WIMBIZ, a founding member of Women in Politics (WIMPol) and a former Deputy Country Representative, Nigeria, of Deutsch e-Bank; was recently declared winner at the Ijebu Central Federal Consistency primary election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun State.

In this interview, she speaks on her experience contesting for the House of Representatives, the challenges of securing a party ticket, the influence of party structures on women’s political ambitions and her determination to contest again in 2027. She also discusses the need for women who have secured elective positions to support aspiring female politicians and explains why she believes women must remain committed to political participation despite the barriers they face.

Excerpts: You transitioned from the corporate world to politics after your retirement in 2020. What informed that decision? I have always believed in the importance of women’s participation in leadership. By the time I retired in 2020, I had prepared myself for a career in politics. From 2013, I knew that politics was something I wanted to pursue, so I began preparing for it.

I eventually contested for the House of Representatives in 2023 to represent Ogbomoso Central Federal Constituency. I approached the contest with the same seriousness, preparation and determination as any other candidate. What were the major challenges you encountered as a woman contesting for political office? The challenges women face in politics are well known.

They include political violence, limited access to funding and other barriers. Interestingly, funding was not a major challenge for me because of my corporate experience and the relationships I had built over the years. Having supported, mentored and nurtured women in business, I had established a strong network of sponsors and supporters. My reputation also helped me attract people who believed in my ambition.

However, the major challenge was the political structure itself. Nigeria’s political system is not structured to accommodate women adequately. Despite your corporate experience, network and supporters, you did not secure your party’s ticket in 2023. What went wrong? I believe the challenge was the party structure and the people who control access to political opportunities.

I had expected that my pedigree, experience and contributions to society would count for something. I did my research, reached out to my constituency and carried out the necessary groundwork. I wanted to become a symbol of a new chapter for women in Nigerian politics. I believed that if more women with experience, credibility and the capacity to lead could successfully navigate the political system, it would encourage others to participate.

Unfortunately, I did not secure the ticket. You have said that funding was not a major problem for you. Did you face pressure to engage in money politics? I was determined not to engage in money politics or buy votes. I believed doing so would compromise my principles and disappoint the people who had supported me, including my family. I wanted to run a campaign based on my record, ideas, engagement with the people and the support I had earned.

Although I had supporters and people who believed in my ambition, that was not enough to overcome the challenges within the party structure. There was also the question of whether I would play politics in the same way as others. I believe women should be able to participate in politics without being expected to compromise their values to gain acceptance.

Do you think the political system discriminates against women who refuse to play by the established rules? The political structure presents significant challenges for women. My experience made me realise that having the qualifications, resources, networks and willingness to serve does not automatically translate into securing a party ticket. Women must navigate party structures and the interests of those who control them.

This is one of the reasons we must continue to examine the barriers preventing women from participating fully in politics. We need a system that recognises competence and allows women to compete meaningfully for elective positions. What lessons did you learn from your 2023 electoral experience? I learnt that political participation requires persistence.

I did not give up after 2023 and I remained committed to my constituency. Although I did not secure the ticket, the experience gave me visibility. People in my constituency came to know me, my ambition and the kind of campaign I ran. I believe political participation s