By Prosper Mene
In a bold campaign promise ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Chioma Grace Ifemeludike, the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate, has pledged to dismantle Anambra State’s vigilance group, Agunechemba, citing its ineffectiveness and alleged human rights abuses.
Speaking at a recent town hall engagement, the 36-year-old Nollywood actress-turned-politician lambasted the current administration under Governor Chukwuma Soludo for failing to prioritize residents’ safety. “Lives haven’t mattered in Anambra,” Ifemeludike declared, questioning the state’s reliance on external interventions. “Are we waiting for the US to come and save Anambra State? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Ifemeludike, the youngest among the 16 candidates vying for the state’s top job, positioned her eight-point agenda as a roadmap to “transform Anambra into a beacon of progress, prosperity, and good governance.” Central to her vision is a complete overhaul of the security architecture. She vowed to scrap Agunechemba, a vigilante outfit launched earlier this year to combat rising insecurity and replace it with a more effective, accountable system.
“I’ll scrap it [Agunechemba] because it’s not effective,” she stated. The promise echoes her earlier criticisms of the group, which she has described as a “nightmare to Ndi Anambra” (Anambra citizens). In April, Ifemeludike called for an immediate probe into alleged extrajudicial killings, criminal activities, and human rights violations by its operatives, urging the establishment of a supervisory board to curb excesses.
The controversy surrounding Agunechemba has simmered since its inception, with reports of rogue elements engaging in harassment and unlawful arrests drawing public ire. Soludo’s administration has defended the outfit as a necessary response to kidnappings and armed robberies, promising measures to weed out bad actors. However, Ifemeludike’s accusations have resonated in a state plagued by insecurity, where voters are desperate for tangible solutions.
Ifemeludike, hailing from Idemili South Local Government Area in Anambra Central Senatorial District, has emerged as a fresh voice in the race. A former beauty queen and advocate for youth empowerment, she recently dazzled audiences at a gubernatorial debate organized by the Creative Mind Centre for Youth and Community Development, outlining plans for inclusive governance, economic revitalization, and STEM education. Her running mate, Kingsley Mgbemena, complements her ticket with experience in community development.
Critics, however, have pointed to an old photograph of the candidate that sparked debates about “sexualizing politics,” though Ifemeludike has dismissed it as a distraction from substantive issues. Undeterred, she positions herself as “the people’s choice,” challenging the state’s power rotation tradition and calling for merit-based leadership.
The November 8 election pits Ifemeludike against heavyweights like incumbent Soludo (APGA), APC’s Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who promises to convert kidnappers’ dens into industrial hubs and ADC’s John Nwosu, who claims he can end insecurity in four months. With 21 local government areas at stake, the race is expected to be fierce, with security topping voters’ concerns.
As polls open in two days, Ifemeludike’s pledge has ignited discussions on whether scrapping Agunechemba is a radical fix or a risky gamble. “Anambra deserves better than vigilante nightmares,” she concluded. “Elect me, and we’ll build security that serves, not terrorizes.”
