2019: Araraume In Secret Pact With Izunaso Over Imo APC Guber Ticket

Newspaper reports in Owerri claimed on Tuesday that a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress,APC in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume is now working hand in gloves with the National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Senator Osita Izunaso  for the soul of the party in the State.

Details of the alliance were sketchy, but party sources said it is in furtherance of the actualization of the speculated governorship ambition of the Senator Araraume in 2019.

Araraume whose son is a commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Okorocha’s government is said to be very much interested in the governorship contest and is not resting on his oars. Politcal pundits described as man with an elastic ability to wage relentless political battles.

The senator is alleged to have made strong moves to co-opt other top party leaders into his governorship project. 

This newspaper had reported that he is allegedly  funding the party by paying monthly stipends to  party executives at the ward and local government levels in a party badly cash strapped despite having a serving governor and many members in the Imo State House of Assembly.  He has not denied this claim.

Araraume defected to the APC from the PDP shortly before the 2015 governorship election in Imo State-  a move which aided Rocahs Okorocha to defeat the PDP governorship candidate, Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

If he runs for the position again in 2019 as speculated, it will be his fourth attempt. 

An alliance with senator Izunaso is said to be timely as the latter had also lost the Imo West senatorial seat to PDP’s Senator Hope Uzodinma.

It is unclear if the APC national party executive member is interested in contesting for the senatorial seat anymore or may possibly  pair with Araraume to wade off any opposition in the latter's  quest to fly the party’s governorship ticket in 2019 in Imo State.

Speculations has been rife in Owerri that Araraume entered into an agreement with Okorocha that he (Okorocha) will support his ambition in 2019, a report both sides have never refuted.

BY GRACE IGWEANYI 

PHOTO: Senator Ifeanyi Araraume