The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday rejected a bill to institute gender parity.

The bill which was sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi, was titled “Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence against Women”.

Olujimi, who represents Ekiti south, had argued that the bill would seek equal rights for women in marriage, education and job.

The failure of the bill to pass the second reading had elicited series of heavy criticism from the Nigerian citizenry who questioned the validity of the reasons given.

Three members of the Senate were instrumental to the failure of the bill to scale second reading during plenary session.

The trio of Ahmad Sani Yerima, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha – kicked against the bill, citing religious and cultural reasons.

Senator Ahmad Rufai Sani Yerima

Senator Yerima is a former governor of Zamfara state, a second term senator representing Zamfara west senatorial district.

He was the first governor to implement Sharia law in a Nigerian state. In 2003, Yerima came under a barrage of public condemnation after marrying an underage girl, an action that violated the Child Rights Act of 2003.

He is a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero

 

Aliero is a former governor of Kebbi State (from 1999 to 2007) and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Senator, who represents Kebbi Central senatorial district, was a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the Umar Musa Yar’adua administration.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha

 

Senator Bwacha is a two time senator representing Taraba South constituency in the senate (from 2011 to date).

Bacha is a member of the PDP and had previously been a member of the federal House of Representatives for the Donga / Ussa / Takum Constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007.