The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in the 8 November Anambra State election, Chioma Ifemeludike, has declared herself a winner despite polling only 292 votes, according to official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC announced that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate and incumbent governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, emerged victorious with 422,664 votes. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, came second with 99,445 votes.
However, Ifemeludike maintained that her performance represented a symbolic triumph in what she described as a political landscape dominated by entrenched parties. Taking to her X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, she wrote, “Integrity stands firm and higher than political deception. I’m a winner!”
The AAC candidate, who attracted significant online attention during her campaign for her unconventional photos and videos, expressed satisfaction with her showing at the polls, saying it was achieved without any malpractice or vote buying.
Ifemeludike’s campaign gained widespread attention earlier in the election season after her distinctive campaign imagery went viral. Her appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme further drew public interest when she vowed to prioritise security reforms in the state, pledging to disband the controversial Agunechemba security outfit if elected.
“Restructuring security is a priority,” she said during the interview. “My focus is on ensuring that safety measures serve the people and not partisan interests.”
Supporters of the AAC candidate have hailed her campaign as a victory for alternative political voices, arguing that her participation broadened democratic discourse and demonstrated courage in contesting against much larger and better-funded parties.
Despite finishing far behind the major contenders, Ifemeludike’s stance has resonated with some young voters and reform-minded activists who view her campaign as a challenge to Nigeria’s traditional political establishment.
Observers say her post-election remarks underscore a growing frustration among smaller political parties about the dominance of the big players, even as they continue to champion issues of integrity, transparency, and inclusion in Nigerian politics.
