The African Action Congress (AAC) has condemned what it described as sexist comments and coded language directed at its governorship candidate in Anambra State, Chioma Ifemeludike, following her campaign photo release ahead of the November 8 election.
Gatekeepers Newsreports that Ifemeludike, who will contest alongside incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other candidates, has faced a wave of reactions on social media since announcing her candidacy.
In a statement on Wednesday, Femi Adeyeye, AAC’s National Publicity Secretary, said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) observed that Ifemeludike was being judged more on her appearance and outfit choices than on her political ideas and policy proposals.
“Instead of engaging with her governance plans, some have chosen to police her appearance,” Adeyeye said, describing the remarks as evidence of the “deep-rooted patriarchy” that still shapes Nigeria’s political culture.
He cited past incidents of sexism in Nigerian politics, including the experiences of Bianca Ojukwu and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, noting that such attitudes discourage women’s participation in governance.
“Unlike conventional parties, we don’t ‘Akpabio’ women in our party,” Adeyeye said, referring to the derogatory treatment of women in political spaces.
He added that women in politics often face “double scrutiny,” being expected to prove competence while conforming to rigid social standards of femininity.
“Reducing a female candidate to her body or clothing silences her vision and reinforces the idea that women’s worth is tied to appearance, not ability,” he said.
“The future we want is one where leaders are judged by their policies and work ethic, not their looks or wardrobe. Supporting women in politics is not charity; it is democracy in its truest form.”
Omoyele Sowore, the AAC’s 2023 presidential candidate, also condemned the online criticism, describing Ifemeludike as a brilliant and visionary leader whose ideas deserve fair engagement.
“It is profoundly disappointing that chauvinists are disparaging the AAC gubernatorial candidate in Anambra State, Chioma Grace Ifemeludike — an exemplary young woman whose groundbreaking ideas and remarkable intelligence they cannot equal,” Sowore said in a post on X.
“Instead of debating her policies, they attack her appearance.”
