By Emma Elekwa
Former Anambra State governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Chioma Ifemeludike, has emerged as the party’s senatorial candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ifemeludike clinched the ticket through a consensus arrangement during the party’s primary election held on Thursday and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With her emergence, the AAC deputy national chairperson is set for a fierce contest against the incumbent senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Victor Umeh, as well as whoever emerges as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the senatorial race.
The primary election also produced Agozie Mmotoh as the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Awka North and South Federal Constituency.
Declaring the results, the Returning Officer, Obianuju Aniche, commended party members for their orderly and peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.
Speaking shortly after her emergence, Ifemeludike thanked party faithful for the confidence reposed in her, pledging not to disappoint them.
She reiterated her commitment to quality representation and vowed to continue fighting for the people and amplifying their voices at the national level.
“I appreciate the party faithful for giving me their consensus acceptance. I promise not to compromise my stand or disappoint them.
“We will not give up on our pursuit of quality representation,” she said.
According to her, the AAC may not boast of massive structures like the bigger political parties, but remains committed to principles and people-oriented governance.
“Yes, we may not be controlling crowds, but one person can effect change.
“I prefer staying with a few to get things right instead of joining a bigger party and compromising.
Committed to the new way
“I’m here to prove to the people of the state that we cannot continue this way and that there are alternatives.
“Even if they pretend there are none, by the time we get to the bridge, they will appreciate the choice they made,” she stated.
The senatorial hopeful identified zeal and passion as the major driving forces behind her political journey, insisting they outweigh money and political structures.
“For me, zeal and passion are stronger than structures, money or anything else.
“Those qualities worked for me during last year’s governorship election and they will work again in 2027.
“In AAC, we don’t manipulate people. Otherwise, we would be worse than those who induce voters with peanuts.
“We are here to present our manifesto and allow the people to decide freely,” she added.
Explaining how she emerged as consensus candidate, the Ezinimo, Eziowele-born politician from Idemili North Local Government Area said party members unanimously endorsed her based on her track record and leadership experience.
“It was a clamour by party members who saw reasons why I should represent them.
“From my experience as state party leader and former governorship candidate, they believe I’m best positioned to fly the party’s flag at this point,” she noted.
Transactional politics
Ifemeludike described vote-buying and transactional politics as a monster in the room and major threat to democracy.
“No matter how people see you as better candidate, they’ll still choose in that line because trust actually is broken.
“Aside being a politician, I’m an advocate and as one who strongly believe on advocacy and social justice, we’ll continue to plead with their conscience to consider and value themselves first and see how they can deliver themselves from the wreckage that’s coming.
“One of the biggest and strongest social justice that can ever happen to the electorate is mind revolution. Our people need to have a shift in their thinking.
“Unless that happens, nobody can save them, even Peter Obi, Sowore, not even Jesus Christ. People must arise over injustice done to them and their children,” she added.
