The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate, Chioma Ifemeludike, has condemned the poor state of governance in Anambra State, asserting that residents’ lives “have not mattered” under the current administration.
Speaking during Thursday’s edition of Politics Today on Channels Television, Ifemeludike criticised Governor Charles Soludo’s leadership, particularly on issues of security. She argued that numerous preventable deaths occurred under his watch despite substantial state allocations and internally generated revenue.
“For me, there is so much to be done in Anambra State, and we haven’t seen it under Professor Soludo’s leadership,” she said. “When human lives are concerned, the government’s primary duty should be to protect its people. With all the available resources, people’s lives should matter.”
The 36-year-old candidate decried the worsening insecurity in the state, citing several incidents of killings and kidnappings. “People were shot in broad daylight, kidnapped, ransom paid, and still killed. A young boy, Emmanuel Chinyecherem Igwe, was slaughtered like an animal. I even protested at the government house over it. We cannot sit back and watch these things happen in the 21st century,” she lamented.
Ifemeludike pledged to overhaul the state’s security system if elected, promising to scrap the current vigilance group, Agwunechemba, which she described as ineffective. “I’ll scrap it because it’s not working. They had their chance and failed. I’ll establish a new framework that recruits locals from their communities, registers them under government supervision, and ensures proper training. It makes a difference when locals protect their people,” she said.
Addressing questions about her popularity, the actress-turned-politician dismissed such concerns, stating that her campaign is driven by intent and purpose, not fame. “Leadership is not about popularity; it’s about purpose, intent, and passion to rescue my people. It’s about the message that resonates and stands the test of time,” she stated.
Ifemeludike, one of two female candidates among sixteen contenders, said her eight-point agenda aims to transform Anambra into “a beacon of progress, prosperity, and good governance in Nigeria.”
The Anambra governorship election will take place on Saturday, 8 November. The Commissioner of Police for election duty, Abayomi Shogunle, assured that security personnel are fully prepared to secure both land and riverine areas. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began distributing sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Awka under the supervision of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Queen Agwu, with party agents, journalists, and observers in attendance.
INEC confirmed that 2,802,790 registered voters will cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in 21 local government areas. Sixteen candidates, including incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), Paul Chukwuma (YPP), George Moghalu (LP), and Jude Ezenwafor (PDP), are contesting.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, reiterated the commission’s commitment to a credible and peaceful poll, warning against vote-buying and electoral violence. Shogunle also disclosed that elections will not be conducted in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.