AAC Candidate Slams Soludo, Says Residents’ Lives ‘Haven’t Mattered’ in Anambra Awka,

The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Chioma Ifemeludike, has accused Governor Charles Soludo’s administration of neglecting the safety and welfare of citizens, saying residents’ lives “haven’t mattered” under his leadership.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the 36-year-old activist and actress decried the worsening insecurity across the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. She cited incidents of kidnappings, daylight killings, and general lawlessness, which she said reflect government’s failure to protect lives and property. “When human lives are concerned, the government’s primary duty is to protect its people. But in Anambra today, people are being shot, kidnapped, and killed without consequences,” Ifemeludike said. “The value of life has been lost, and it shows in the level of fear and hopelessness among residents. She particularly condemned the operations of the state’s vigilante group, known as Agwunechemba, describing it as ineffective and complicit in abuses. The AAC candidate vowed to scrap the security outfit if elected and replace it with a new community-based system under direct government supervision. Ifemeludike also recounted her personal involvement in protests following the killing of a young man, Emmanuel Chinyecherem Igwe, lamenting that the government failed to ensure justice for victims of violence. Emphasizing her campaign message, the AAC candidate said she is not driven by popularity but by “purpose, intent, and passion” to restore security, transparency, and development to Anambra. She is one of two female contenders among 16 candidates vying for the governorship seat in Saturday’s election, which is expected to be a closely contested race dominated by debates over security and governance.