ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Chioma Ifemeludike, has decried the state of governance under Governor Charles Soludo, saying residents’ lives “haven’t mattered” during his administration.
Ifemeludike, a 36-year-old actress and activist, made the remark on Thursday during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, where she discussed her plans for the November 8 governorship election.
“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.
The AAC candidate accused the current administration of failing to address the rising insecurity in the state, describing it as one of Soludo’s leadership lapses.
“Especially in security, there were so many deaths that could have been averted. When human lives are concerned, the government’s primary duty should be to protect its people.
With all the allocations and internally generated revenue, people’s lives should matter,” she added.
Ifemeludike cited incidents of killings and kidnappings across the state to back her claims.
“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,” she recalled.
Lamenting the worsening insecurity, she questioned why authorities seemed complacent.
“We cannot sit back and watch things like this happen in the 21st century.
READ ALSO: Why Anambra Rejected World Bank Loan- Soludo
‘Are we waiting for the US to come and save Anambra State? It doesn’t make any sense,” she said.
Ifemeludike also promised a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s security structure if elected governor, vowing to scrap the existing vigilance group known as ‘Agwunechemba’ and replace it with a more efficient framework.
“I’ll scrap it Agwunechemba because it’s not effective. They had their chance, and they failed,” she stated.
She explained that her administration would adopt a community-based security model, recruiting personnel from local communities, registering them under government supervision, and providing them with adequate training.
“It makes a difference when locals protect their people,” she noted.
Ifemeludike, who is one of only two female candidates among the 16 contenders in the Anambra governorship race, also addressed questions about her popularity and experience.
Her running mate is Kingsley Mgbemena.
“From the beginning, people questioned my popularity. But I believe 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 declared.
She added that her eight-point agenda was designed to transform Anambra State into a beacon of progress, prosperity, and good governance in Nigeria.
The Anambra governorship election will be held on Saturday, November 8, with 16 candidates contesting across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Prominent candidates include Governor Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), Paul Chukwuma (YPP), George Moghalu (LP), and Jude Ezenwafor (PDP).
On Thursday, Commissioner of Police for election duty, Abayomi Shogunle, assured that security personnel were fully prepared to protect both land and riverine areas during the poll.
Shogunle gave the assurance as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Awka to collect sensitive election materials.
The process was supervised by Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Queen Agwu, and witnessed by party agents, journalists, and observers, though officials arrived later than the scheduled 10 a.m.
INEC confirmed that 2,802,790 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units, while elections will not be held in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring a credible and peaceful election, warning against vote-buying and electoral violence.