The results of the last three general elections in Nigeria have shown a low turnout of women in elective positions. Previous studies have linked the low turnout of women in elections to socio-cultural discrimination and the patriarchal nature of Nigerian society, ignoring the role of political parties and other endogenous factors in promoting women participation in politics in Nigeria. Despite extensive research and funding aimed at increasing women's participation in politics, recent off-cycle elections and by-elections conducted after the 2023 general elections revealed a low turnout of women vying for elective positions. This study adopted a mixed-method research design, utilizing a survey population of (n-1000) women respondents and reviewing documents on women’s political participation. Documentary data were analyzed using content analysis, while survey data was analyzed using descriptive analysis. The study was grounded in the theoretical framework of socialist Marxist theory, which x-rays the influence of capitalism and patriarchal dominance in understanding issues related to the political domination of women in society. The findings indicate that, despite the widespread belief that exogenous factors such as culture, religion, and political party exclusion are the primary barriers to women’s political participation, endogenous factors, such as a lack of personal interest, also significantly hinder women’s involvement in politics. The study recommends that political education and enlighten programs be implemented to boost women’s interest in politics at all levels.

Keywords:  Political participation, Political Party, Culture, patriarchal nature, Endogenous Factors, Exogenous factors