Twenty-seven women are among the 317 candidates listed to contest seats in the Kaduna State House of Assembly in the 2027 elections, representing approximately 8.5 per cent of the total candidates, according to the final list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the female candidates are running in 18 of the state’s 34 constituencies. The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, includes a column indicating the gender of each candidate.
Jema’a and Kaura recorded the highest number of female aspirants, with four candidates each.
In Jema’a, the candidates are Deborah Adamu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Alice Maikarfi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rhoda Baton of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Happiness Musa of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
In Kaura, the female candidates are Elizabeth Dauda of the ADP, Tabita Jonathan of the NRM, Laitu Bonet of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Lois Joshua of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Chikun I and Ikara have two women contesting in each constituency. Janet Ayuba of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Isabella Alkali of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) are vying for the Chikun I seat, while Hafsat Isah of the ADP and Zainab Bawa of the NRM are contesting in Ikara.
Jaba also has two female candidates: Hilda Daniel of the ADP and Rebecca Dachep of the Labour Party.
The remaining constituencies each have one woman on the ballot. They are:
- Kajuru: Blessing Solomon (ADP)
- Sanga: Aishatu Inze (SDP)
- Kachia: Evelyn Daniel (ADP)
- Kagarko: Ruth Yakubu (Labour Party)
- Kawo: Fauziyah Isah (ADP)
- Doka/Gabasawa: Khadija Abdullahi (YPP)
- Chawai/Kauru: Tabitha Timothy (Peoples Democratic Party)
- Lere West: Deborah Musa (Nigeria Democratic Congress)
- Saminaka, also listed as Lere East: Munira Tanimu Suleiman (All Progressives Congress)
- Basawa: Halima Salisu (SDP)
- Zangon Kataf: Deborah Musa (YPP)
- Zonkwa: Gladys Ibrahim (ADP)
- Zaria City: Aisha Akilu (SDP)
The 2027 polls will determine the next set of lawmakers in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Political activities are yet to gather momentum in Kaduna, as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepare for the formal inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign, scheduled for October 24.
