Jamila Mohammed Is Sole Woman in Kaduna Governorship Race

By Atlantic Reports

Jamila Mohammed of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) is the only woman among the 16 candidates listed to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kaduna State.

According to the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mohammed will contest the 6 February election alongside her running mate, Ramson Nwoha.

The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains the names, political parties, ages, genders and educational qualifications of the governorship candidates and their running mates.

Mohammed’s candidature brings female representation to the contest for the state’s highest elected office. However, with men occupying the other 15 governorship slots, women remain a small minority among those seeking to lead Kaduna.

A review of the 2023 governorship contest cited in the report indicates that no woman stood as a governorship candidate. Women participated as running mates, including Dr Hadiza Balarabe on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.

For the forthcoming election, five other parties have named women as deputy governorship candidates.

They are Mohammed Rahinatu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Esuga Faith Zainab of the Labour Party (LP), Abdullahi Salima Likko of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Samuel Zippora Bijeh of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and Shamaki Dorcas Arthus of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Other governorship contenders named in the report include Adamu Alhaji Ahamed of the Action Alliance (AA), whose running mate is Yakubu Emmanuel Yav, and Isa Mohammed Ashiru of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), running alongside Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku.

Incumbent Governor Uba Sani is also listed as the APC governorship candidate.

The candidate list establishes who is standing for election, but does not explain the factors behind the limited number of women securing governorship nominations.

Mohammed’s inclusion gives voters a female option at the top of a party ticket, while the broader field shows that women’s representation remains concentrated in deputy governorship positions.

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