Tokenism and women's political communication in the pursuit of gender egalitarianism in Nigeria.

This article examines the rejection of all gender bills presented to Nigeria's Federal House of Assembly in March 2022, highlighting the persistence of tokenism in Nigerian politics that limits women's substantive political representation despite their active participation. Using the concept of Feminist African Political Communication (Feminist Afropolicom), the study analyzes the political communication tactics—liberal, radical, negotiation, and soft power—employed by women politicians, media, and non-governmental organizations advocating for gender egalitarianism. It finds that while women's political participation is broad, their representation remains minimal and symbolic, constrained by patriarchal, cultural, and religious barriers, as well as limited gender literacy among male lawmakers. The article underscores the importance of recognizing and refining women's political communication strategies as a means to challenge tokenism and advance gender equality in Nigeria and the broader Global South.