This article examines issues of women’s involvement in party politics in Nigeria against the background of the 2011 general elections. It explores the influence of patriarchal disposition on women’s participation as well as the extent (or otherwise) to which women are respected and accepted as equal stakeholders in democratic politics and party decision-making organs. It shows that the marginalisation of women defies legal and constitutional guarantees and must be tackled simultaneously with patriarchy by the following means: establishing continuous dialogue between women and men leaders, increasing women’s participation in local elections, endorsing and entrenching a quota system/mechanism in national and political party constitutions, reviewing electoral systems and adopting those most conducive to women’s participation (for example, proportional representation). Political parties should establish legal funds to enable women politicians to challenge electoral malpractices in court.