A wave of heated reactions has followed a social media post suggesting that Nigeria could one day elect a woman as president, with several male users openly rejecting the idea.
The debate began after PDP Republic, a verified X (formerly Twitter) account known for supporting the People’s Democratic Party, shared a photo of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and described her as a potential future female president of Nigeria.
The post quickly sparked a flurry of responses, many of them strongly opposed to the prospect of a woman occupying the country’s highest political office.
Strong Reactions From Some Male Users
Several men who responded to the post used dismissive and inflammatory language to argue against the idea of a female president. Some said they would prefer the current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to remain in office rather than support a woman candidate.
Others went further, making exaggerated comparisons and claiming they would never vote for a woman under any circumstances. A few posts suggested that a female candidate would struggle to secure widespread electoral support.
The comments have since circulated widely, drawing criticism from other users who described them as sexist and reflective of deep-rooted gender bias in Nigerian politics.
Counter-Reactions From Women
Women’s rights advocate Rinu Oduala responded to the backlash, criticising the sentiments expressed by some of the male commenters. She argued that such reactions highlight persistent resistance to women in leadership roles.
Her response added another layer to the online debate, with users split between defending traditional political views and calling for greater gender inclusion in governance.
Nigeria has never elected a female president since gaining independence in 1960. While women have held positions in the National Assembly, ministerial roles, and other high offices, representation at the highest executive level remains untested.
Gender equality advocates have long argued that increased female participation in politics could strengthen democratic development, while critics often cite cultural, religious, or personal beliefs in opposing the idea.
As of now, there has been no official declaration by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding a presidential bid. However, the online exchange has reignited conversations about gender, leadership, and political inclusion in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
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Source: Africa Publicity
