Nollywood Actress Takes Political Leadership Role in Anambra
In a significant political development, Chioma Grace Ifemeludike, a well-known Nollywood actress, has been elected as the Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Anambra State. The election took place on Friday at the Noble Hotel in Awka, the state capital, marking a new chapter in the actress's political career.
Credible Election Process and INEC Oversight
The electoral process received proper oversight from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a three-member team from the Election and Party Monitoring Department present to ensure transparency. The monitoring team comprised Kingsley Ajunwa, Nonso Okolo, and Gbemisola Ogundeji, who observed the entire proceedings.
Delegates representing all three senatorial districts in Anambra State - North, South, and Central - participated in the election and returned Ifemeludike along with the outgoing executive as the new leadership team for the state chapter. The Chairman of the AAC Congress Committee, Ndubuisi Anaenugwu, made the formal announcement confirming the re-election of the executive body.
Vision for Grassroots Democracy and Citizen Empowerment
In her acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman expressed strong optimism about the executive's ability to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level. She emphasized the party's unwavering commitment to core principles including integrity, accountability, transparency, social justice, and citizen empowerment.
Ifemeludike outlined the party's mission to equip rural communities and non-governmental organizations with the necessary knowledge to effectively exercise their political power. She pointed to the party's slogan, "Take back the society with action," as reflecting the urgent need for active citizenship in Nigeria.
The actress turned politician lamented the prevailing passivity among Nigerians despite facing numerous challenges including hunger, insecurity, and unemployment. She stressed that citizens must become more engaged in the political process to drive meaningful change.
Recognition of Sowore's Leadership and Women Empowerment
Ifemeludike specifically praised Omoyele Sowore, the AAC Presidential candidate, for creating a political platform that enables individuals like herself, particularly women, to pursue leadership roles. She acknowledged Sowore's role in breaking barriers that traditionally limited women's participation in Nigerian politics.
The Congress Committee Chairman, Anaenugwu, described the election as free, fair, and credible, commending both the delegates for their cooperation and INEC for their monitoring role. He charged the new executive with serving a four-year term and promised that the AAC would continue to promote good governance, grassroots empowerment, and ethical political participation.
Anaenugwu boldly stated that the AAC remains undaunted by larger political parties such as the APC, ADC, or APGA, asserting that the party is committed to a people-driven revolution that prioritizes ethical leadership over money politics.
Recent Political Activism Against Vote Buying
The election comes just two weeks after Ifemeludike made headlines during the Anambra State governorship election when she accused the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of engaging in vote buying. In a video recorded at a polling unit, the Nollywood actress decried open vote buying practices, expressing dismay that voters received as little as 3,000 to 5,000 naira after marking their ballots.
She described the scene as being supervised by party agents despite visible poverty in the communities. "This is criminal and totally absurd. If APGA claims to have all the popularity, why then are they buying votes? Criminalizing and polluting the polity, wasting our resources rather than channeling it to environmental and human development," Ifemeludike stated passionately.
The actress turned activist expressed deep concern about the situation, noting that "there is no election here, it is practically transactions going on all around here. When you vote, they will write your name and proceed to another section." Her outspoken criticism of electoral malpractices demonstrates her commitment to transparent and ethical political processes.
