Initially, it looked as if women would drop their usual daring participation in the country's male-dominated electoral contests next year. However, as current indications reveal, the rank of women contestants is swelling. STEPHEN GBADAMOSI and DAMOLA ADEOYE examine the strength of some of them and the likely challenges that may dog their paths.MRS Sarah Jubril and Major Moji Obasanjo are two prominent women politicians who have one time or the other slugged it out with their male counterparts for the nation's presidential seat, since the return of democracy in 1999. Though the country is yet to produce a female president, there has since been a remarkable increase in the number of women in different elective positions. From state assembly members to federal legislators, women have been doing well. In fact, the country has also produced a female governor, albeit through the instrumentality of the law and the legislature. Ever since, women have continued to push further beyond the frontiers.In the current dispensation, women aren't lagging behind. They have indicated interest in vying for elective positions, with some of them no more interested in playing second fiddle; they want to be in charge by contesting the governorship of their state.Gbemisola SarakiShe is the most visible woman politician in Kwara State, contesting the governorship position. She was in House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 and in the Senate between 2003 and 2011. Those who know the daughter of the late strongman of Kwara politics, Chief Olusola Saraki, said she is a philanthropist per excellence, a trait she is said to have inherited from her father. A graduate of the University of Sussex in United Kingdom, where she bagged a degree in Economics, Gbemi as fondly called is a politician of no mean repute. She sees politics as service to humanity, adding; 'that is what I have done conscientiously since 1999, when I was elected into the House of Representatives.'As part of her efforts to endear herself to the people and clinch the governorship seat, Senator Saraki has set up a foundation to take care of indigent students, the aged and the underprivileged in the state. She said it was her desire to rescue the state from maladministration, adding that it is 'by popular demand' that she threw her hat into the ring for the governorship contest.Today, the beautiful Senator has become a factor in Kwara politics because of her teeming supporters who cut across the three senatorial districts of the state. One will recall that with the support of her late father, she had a shot at the state governorship in 2011 on the ticket of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). Her ambition received so much boost that her father, the then kingmaker in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left the party he built, for the ACPN, in a bid to give Gbemisola a platform, since the incumbent governor then, Senator Bukola Saraki, had a different plan. Governor Saraki it would be remembered was against handing over to another Saraki after the completion of his eight year tenure. He therefore pitched his tent with Abdulfattah Ahmed who went ahead to win the poll.Though Gbemisola lost the election, it appears her profile has since continued to soar. Feelers have it that the current chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, was her candidate in the party's recentcongress. The duo are expected to work together to realise the ex-Senator's ambition.The major challenge Saraki might face, analysts contend is how she hopes to find her feet in a male-dominated environment like Kwara, deeply rooted in the Northern traditions of patriarchy. Some men don't just see why a woman should be governor. Besides that, her campaign of maladministration and the chant of freedom is perceived by many as a campaign that may not go far. If she chants 'freedom' for Kwarans, the next question is, from who' The same Saraki dynasty she's part of, queried an analyst.Abieatedoghu Bob-Abbey HartThis woman, though a development consultant, trained as a lawyer. She is from Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. She has been practicing at the Supreme Court level for 17 years. She claims to be the first PDP leader in Bonny Local Government Area and that she contested the April 2011 governorship election. She had once been in the House of Representatives, representing Bonny/Degema constituency. She is a major contender for the governorship ticket of the PDP.As a strong voice in the clamour for power shift in the state, she considers herself the best material to rule Rivers come 2015. In her words, 'to build a state, you need an experienced and exposed hand and sound mind. As governor of Rivers State, my government will be responsive and responsible and will build a progressive and orderly society where every life and community will be given equal opportunity to develop.'Hart was recently quoted as saying 'power must rotate to give every part of Rivers State a sense of belonging. The integrity and dignity of people must be respected. In the understanding of power rotation, governorship, Senatorial and House of Representatives slots are for Bonny this time around by divine intervention. It will be rude for anyone to disregard our place as Nigerians, or deny us of our rights. On equity, fairness and justice we stand. I believe we are protected by the constitution.' Hart's headache observers argue will be how to position herself strategically to outwit former minister of state (education), Nyesom Wike who probably has the ticket to lose. This conspiracy theory has been given further bite by the action of 16 other governorship aspirants on the PDP platform, who boycotted the PDP ward congresses citing irregularities which they contend, may have been skewed in favour of Wike. Besides, the open endorsement Wike got from Dame Patience Jonathan, who had 'blessed' the ex-minister's aspiration.Hart would therefore have to 'wrestle' the ticket ostensibly from Wike.Helen EsueneSenator Esuene was born on 23 November 1949. She took a course in Confidential Secretaryship and Office Management at the Federal Training Centre, Kaduna before commencing her civil service career as a confidential secretary. Later, she did a distance course from the University of Leicester and obtained Msc in Finance, after which, she married the former military governor of the old Cross River State, Chief Udokaha Jacob Esuene.She remained a civil servant until her appointment as Minister of State for Health and later Minister of Environment and Housing during the Presidency of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo between 2005 and 2007. In 2011, she took a shot at the legislature and was elected into the Senate to represent Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district on the ticket of the PDP.A woman with a strong conviction, Senator Esuene was recently quoted in an interview as a saying; 'a lot of people have come to me to say 'you must contest' and I say 'why'' They say 'we know that you are the one that can manage this state, so that there is unity, transparency, sustainable development.''I know sustainable development is born out of three things. One justice, two justice which begets peace and unity and three is vision before you can have sustainable development; otherwise, we know that it is very difficult to build; but to destroy is easy.'That Senator Esuene is a reputable politician is not in doubt, what may however clog her progress is the direct support incumbent governor Godswill Akpabio is giving his former SSG, Emmanuel Udom. Akpabio is leaving no one in doubt where his support is and has done all within his capacity to position Udom as the candidate of choice. That action even irked some Akwa-Ibom elders who at their press briefing in Abuja complained bitterly of alienation by the governor.Esuene will therefore have a big job on her hands, if her dream of securing the governorship ticket of the PDP is to be realised.Ngozi OlejemeOlejeme, chairman of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), hails from Asaba, Delta State. Her activities and well orchestrated media onslaught, observers maintain, show her seriousness in gunning for the state's top seat.Olejeme, described as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, politician and administrator, currently sits on the board of numerous companies and government establishments, most notably the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P) and Trust Fund Pension, among others.As a leading contender in the race to the Asaba Government House who has even decided to continue in the race, with or without the support of the incumbent governor, Olejeme seems undeterred. Referring to the tacit support governor Uduaghan is giving Sir Tony Obuh, a retired permanent secretary; she declared that if governor Akpabio could become Akwa-Ibom State governor despite not getting the support of then incumbent, Chief Victor Attah, nothing stops her from repeating that same feat in Delta State. In her words; 'I just need the support of El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty to be governor of Delta State. When Godswill Akpabio was vying for the governorship position of Akwa Ibom, the incumbent governor, Obong Victor Attah did not support him. Today, Akpabio is the governor of the state. We don't need the support of anybody. We need the support of God'Currently, she also holds the position of director of finance in the Goodluck Support Group (GSG), the organisation in the forefront of the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Though she enjoys the endorsement of a number of powerful kingmakers in the state, chief of which is that of the Asagba of Asaba, Prof Chike Edozien, Eze Emu of Emu, His Royal Majesty, Obuenwe Ekpechi Ulu, Obi of Ute- Okpu, His Royal Majesty, Obi Solomon Chukwuka and other Anioma traditional rulers, elders and youths, how Olejeme will pip Obuh and other strong contenders to the ticket promises to be an interesting scenario.Ada ChengeA frontline PDP chieftain in Benue State, Chenge, a trained engineer, has made it known to those who care to listen that she is in the race for Benue Government House for real. The first female mechanical engineer from the state is also said to be the only female governorship contender in the quest for PDP ticket in the state. Chenge, who contested and lost the 2011 primaries of the PDP, is also the first female managing director of Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority. The Ogbadigbo, Benue South Senatorial district-born politician, as a technocrat, has been General Manager of Benue State Water Board and currently the Managing Director of the aforesaid River Basin Development Authority.Those close to Benue State politics claim that she has a wide appeal among youths in the state. Whether or not she will become the first female governor of the state is what onlookers are waiting to see. Early this year, Chenge was quoted in a media interview as saying; 'I have been in the male-dominated world all my life. So, I don't think sex is an issue in terms of leadership. I believe that if you are able to make your mark, both male and female will vote you. Don't forget that the women even vote more.'One thing that may be of favour to Chenge is the fact that though born an Idoma, she is married to a Tiv. Her opponents however feel she may not be able to slug it out effectively when push comes to shove. The conspiracy theory that most Northerners won't support a female candidate for the position of governor may pose a challenge to her.Aisha Jummai Al-HassanSenator representing Taraba North, Al-Hassan is reported to be a serious grassroots mobiliser. Having declared her ambition alongside Esuene in Abuja on 11 December 2013, the first term senator is leaving nothing to chance in the bid to realise her dream.A lawyer who had once served as Taraba State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, she was also one-time Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She is an astute businesswoman and a big spender.She became senator in 2011 after defeating Senator Manzo Anthony. According to available record, she is one of only four women so elected on the ticket of the PDP at the time. According to media reports, both lawmakers had said at their declaration that; 'we are only saying, as responsible women, we shall be less distracted in office, like any of the men that had served in that capacity with attendant highly-focused and development-driven governance.'Our efforts would, no doubt, take our states to greater heights in all ramifications.'The current high wire politics between the camp of ailing governor Danbaba Suntai and acting governor Garba Umar may have whittled down the aspiration of Al-Hassan. While the acting governor is interested in becoming substantive governor and has in fact picked up the PDP nomination form, the camp of ailing governor Suntai is already positioning former minister of state (Niger delta), Darius Ishaku to thwart the acting governor's moves. Apart from that, the added religious dimension may also be a factor. With Suntai, a Christian out of the way, some elements in the state may be projecting Ishaku to maintain the Christian rule while Umar, a Muslim, may stand a better chance convincing Muslims in the state, ahead of Al-Hassan, whose gender may also be a stumbling block.Observers maintain that the greatest challenge to the political aspiration of women especially as regards attaining plum positions like governorship and presidency, apart from the African culture steeped in patriarchy is the structure and workings of political parties themselves. 'How for instance is a married woman expected to attend political meetings in the dead of the night, when she has a husband and children to cater for, asked, Opeyemi Ogedengbe, a political observer'' Women sometimes, are their own undoing, as they are usually the ones who run down their mates when those ones aspire. 'How many votes did Sarah Jubril get at the last PDP presidential primaries' Are there no women delegates who could have voted for her'' questioned, Chief Femi Oladiran, an APC chieftain.Now that some of these women and many others have signified interest in challenging men for their states' top position, it however, remains to be seen if their party would support them by handing them the tickets or simply shove them aside when the race thickens, preferring to offer them the deputy governorship slot as was the case in the past.Besides, are Nigerians even willing to give them the benefit of the doubt to allow them prove their mettle as state chief executives
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