Thesis Abstract

Women constitute almost half of the population of Nigeria but they are not well represented in vital decision making organs of government. In Nigeria, there is no legislative framework securing quotas for women in political parties and national elections. This is due to cultural and religious beliefs. The main objective of this research is to assess Christian women involvement in politics in Niger State, Nigeria. Three research questions were formulated. What is the understanding of Christian women participation in politics according to their educational attainment? To what extent do married and single Christian women engage in partisan politics in Niger State? Which political offices do Christian women from orthodox and Pentecostal churches in Niger State contest for? And three null hypotheses There is no significant difference in the understanding of Christian women‟ involvement in politics according to their educational attainment. There is no significant difference in the extent to which single and married Christian women engage in partisan politics in Niger State. There is no significant difference in the number of political offices Christian women‟ from orthodox and Pentecostal churches in Niger State contest for. Were stated and tested. The population of this study comprised all Christian women in Niger State. Survey research design was used for the study. Using the multi-stage sampling technique, three (3) local government areas were sampled from each of the three (3) senatorial zones of the state. Seven hundred (700) Christian women were sampled. A modified questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection and statistical package for social science (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. Frequencies and percentages were used for bio-data variables. Frequencies mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background to the Study

Today, there is a misleading belief among Christians that politics is a dirty and immoral activity. This belief has determined and shaped the disposition of a considerable number of Christians towards politics. This misleading belief is capable of placing Christians at a disadvantage. If there are some observed moral defects in the game of politics in our society, and Christians choose not to be part of it, how do they then inject sanity into it? Christianity is the religion that is based on the teachings and the way of life of Jesus Christ through His death, resurrection, ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers. These teachings were given by Christ to His apostles through a special revelation. The beliefs and practices of Christians are directed and motivated by the injunction and precepts of Christ as contained in the Bible. Unger (1996) opines that Christianity is a way of life while Mu‟azam (2002) observed that Christianity is a way, manner and system of life which are ordained by God Almighty and therefore sacred.

The exclusion of women from political processes in Nigeria can be traced back to the colonial time when women were forced to give up many of their political rights. As a result of colonization, the resurgence of women‟s movements demanding greater political participation in Nigeria took place later than other countries. For instance, women living in northern Nigeria received suffrage as late as 1978. Some women who made the mark on the political scene at that period include Mrs. Margaret Ekpo of the famous Aba riot of 1929, Madam Tinubu of Lagos and Egbaland, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome- Kuti of Abeokuta Union of 1948 and Hajiya Gambo Sawaba of Northern Element Progressive….