Twenty-seven women are among 317 candidates contesting seats in the Kaduna State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 elections.

The women account for about 8.5 per cent of the candidates listed for the state’s constituencies released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The final list for Kaduna signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC secretary, identifies female candidates through the gender column, with women contesting in 18 of the 34 constituencies in Kaduna.

In Kajuru, Blessing Solomon of the Action Democratic Party is the only woman among nine candidates, while Chikun I has two women among 15 candidates: Janet Ayuba of the Social Democratic Party and Isabella Alkali of the Zenith Labour Party.

Ikara has two female candidates among nine contestants: Hafsat Isah of the ADP and Zainab Bawa of the National Rescue Movement.

Jema’a has the highest number of female candidates, with four women among 10 contestants. They are Deborah Adamu of the ADP, Alice Maikarfi of the African Democratic Congress, Rhoda Baton of the National Democratic Party and Happiness Musa of the NRM.

In Sanga, Aishatu Inze of the SDP is the only woman among nine candidates, while Evelyn Daniel of the ADP is the sole female candidate among seven contestants in Kachia.

Ruth Yakubu of the Labour Party is the only woman among 10 candidates in Kagarko. Kawo also has one female candidate among 10 contestants, Fauziyah Isah of the ADP.

In Doka/Gabasawa, Khadija Abdullahi of the Young Progressives Party is the only woman among 12 candidates, while Chawai/Kauru has one woman among five candidates, Tabitha Timothy of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Lere West has one female candidate among nine contestants, Deborah Musa of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Munira Tanimu Suleiman of the All Progressives Congress is the only woman among nine candidates in Saminaka, also listed as Lere East.

In Basawa, Halima Salisu of the SDP is the sole female candidate among 10 contestants. Zangon Kataf has one woman among 10 candidates, Deborah Musa of the YPP, while Gladys Ibrahim of the ADP is the only woman among eight contestants in Zonkwa.

Aisha Akilu of the SDP is the sole female candidate among 10 contestants in Zaria City, while Jaba has two women among 12 candidates: Hilda Daniel of the ADP and Rebecca Dachep of the LP.

Kaura has four female candidates among 10 contestants: Elizabeth Dauda of the ADP, Tabita Jonathan of the NRM, Laitu Bonet of the Peoples Redemption Party and Lois Joshua of the YPP.

The figures show that Jema’a and Kaura have the highest number of female candidates, with four women each, followed by Chikun I and Ikara, with two each.

The 2027 elections will determine the composition of the Kaduna assembly, with candidates from various political parties seeking election to represent their constituencies.

Meanwhile, political campaigns are yet to commence in earnest in Kaduna, where members of the ruling APC are preparing for the formal inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign scheduled for October 24.

(NAN)