- Safiu Kehinde
The African Action Congress (AAC) party has condemned the sexist joke against its candidate for the 2025 Anambra Gubernatorial election, Chioma Ifemeludike.
NPO earlier Reported that Ifemeludike had become subject of online troll and sexist comment following the Nollywood actress’ post on X handle on Tuesday, declaring the commencement of her campaign for the November election.
As seen in the post, Ifemeludike had attached pictures of her on a sleeveless black gown.
However, one of the pictures which captured the actress flaunting her backside tend to have distracted some netizens from the original intent of the post as they resorted to sexist trolls which had earned her nickname of ‘baddie candidate’.
An X user, David Onyemaizu, had in comment asked if her backside is the manifesto she and plans she has for Anambra state.
Another X user, Morris Monye, had expressed his displeasure with women’s usage of sexism appeal to gain public attention.
“Women have found out that the easiest way to get attention and views here is to go raunchy.” He wrote amongst other comments.
Reacting to the trolls and comments, the AAC, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, expressed its displeasure with netizens’ judgement of Ifemeludike based on her outfit and physical features rather than the quality of her ideas.
This, according to the statement, exposed how deeply Nigeria’s political culture is still shaped by patriarchy.
The AAC held that this had also been in play at the National Assembly, citing the case of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Kogi state lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Recall that Bianca had during her Ministerial screening before the Senate in 2024 caused stir withing the chamber after Enugu lawmaker, Sen. Osita Ngwu, praised her beauty.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had made light joke out of the remark as he cut Ngwu short while stating that Bianca never indicated in her Curriculum Vitae that she is beautiful.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, on the other hand had accused the Senate leadership of sexual harassment and intimidation.
“We are not surprised by the unleashing of these backward ideas as we know that they are what the society has allowed over the years and crushing these ideas is the reason our party was established.
“The conversation around Comrade Chioma‘s appearance exposes how deeply patriarchy still shapes our political culture.
“Instead of engaging with her plans for governance, some people have chosen to police her looks.
“The sexist jokes remain condemned but are not surprising because even the National Assembly; a supposed model of national representation has become a house of sexist jokes.
“Examples of such show of shame are when Bianca Ojukwu appeared before the Senate for confirmation as Minister and the unpleasant treatment of Senator Natasha Akpoti. ” The statement.
In an indirect jab at the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over his sexual harassment scandal with Akpoti-Uduaghan, the AAC held that it doesn’t “Akpabio” women.
It held that reducing a female candidate to her body or her clothing silences her vision and reinforce the message that women’s worth is tied to their physical appearance, not ability.
The party urged Anambra voters to reject the sexist jokes and mockery against Ifemeludike.
“Unlike your conventional parties, we don’t “Akpabio” women in our party.
“It is an unfortunate fact that women in politics face double the scrutiny: they must prove their competence while also meeting society’s constantly shifting expectations of “acceptable” femininity and womanhood.
“This isn’t just unfair. We consider it a distraction from the real issues that matter.
“When we reduce a female candidate to her body or her clothing, we silence her vision and reinforce the message that women’s worth is tied to their physical appearance, not ability.
“Nigeria, and indeed the world –deserves better.
“Voters must reject the sexist jokes, the mockery, and the coded language that aim to shrink women out of political spaces.
“The future we want is one where leaders are judged by their policies, not their looks; their work ethic, not their wardrobe. Supporting women in politics isn’t charity, it’s democracy in its truest form.
“Support the AAC in the forthcoming elections. Vote for Chioma Ifemeludike for good governance beyond Soludo’s theatrics.” The party added.