The wait continues for Nigeria’s first female governor

monjola sotubo

April 27, 2015 3:40 PM

The new governor of Taraba State is Mr Darius Ishaku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Aisha Alhassan

Mama Taraba has lost the election.

The new governor of Taraba State is Mr Darius Ishaku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Ishaku was named winner after beating All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aisha Alhassan (Mama Taraba) on April 25, 2015.

The PDP candidate won 369,318 votes while Senator Alhassan came second with 275,984.

Elections had earlier been held on April 11 but reruns had to be scheduled in some areas after the initial polls were declared inconclusive due to irregularities.

Before the earlier results had been announced, reports had it that Alhassan was expected to win the polls.

For a brief moment, Nigerians, male and female alike, allowed themselves to dream that this fiercely patriarchal society would allow a woman hold the reins of power; we dreamt too soon.

Nonetheless, history was made with the mere possibility that a woman could contest and even come close to winning the governorship elections of a Nigerian state.

Senator Alhassan has rejected the election results terming the entire exercise “daylight robbery.”

However, unless (or until) an elections tribunal declares her winner in the nearest future, the hopes of Nigerians for an elected female governor must remain dashed.

monjola sotubo