Imo West Senatorial Re Run: APC Makes In-Road, PDP Hopeful, As Ex Speaker's Aide Cautions Senator Araraume.

UWAJUMUOGU

BY :Grace Igweanyi- Owerri Bureau Chief

The race for Imo West senatorial re run contest seem be taking a new dimension following the strong incursion of the All Progressive Congress
APC in the area.

The opposition PDP however remains optimistic, just as social crusader, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha has called on Senator Ifeanyi Araraume to withdraw his support for the APC Senatorial candidate and former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Benjamin Uwjumuogu.

ARARUME

On Saturday, January 09, 2016, top APC leaders in the South East such as Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, APC National Organizing Secretary, Osita Izunaso and others stormed the wedding ceremony of one of the siblings of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.

While the event was a wedding per se, political observers said  it is part of the APC’s  move to grab the Okigwe senatorial seat won by Hon Athan Achonu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the April 2015 National Assembly elections.

Achonu’s victory was nullified by the Appeal Court which ordered a re- run.

The Appellate Court had made its ruling based on the petition filed by the APC Senatorial candidate, Rt Hon.Benjamin Uwajumuogu who had challenged the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal which declared Achonu the rightful winner of the April 2015 polls.

Since the Appeal Court ruled for a re- run, the candidates of the two major political parties have not relented in their quest to secure victory.

The PDP candidate, Athan Achonu is not resting on its oars either.  He is said to enjoy groundswell of support in the six local governments that make up Okigwe zone (Imo West Senatorial district) and intends to re- enact his winning streak whenever the re- run polls hold.  He received the backing of PDP governorship candidate and former Deputy, Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha who paid him a solidarity visit after the Appeal Court quashed his victory.

However, the APC candidate, Uwajumuogu seem to be having greater support considering the  recent backing of his aspiration by  Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who represented the zone for eight years in the red chambers of the senate.

Araraume, a serial governorship aspirant in Imo State defected to the APC in 2015 after losing the governorship ticket of the PDP in Imo State in controversial and questionable circumstances. He  is known for his political sagacity and ability to sway the voting pattern in the zone in favour of the APC candidate.

His daughter’s wedding last Saturday is seen by close observers of the unfolding political events in the zone as part of series of his strategies to ensure the APC win the re- run polls in Imo West Senatorial zone. Many contend that Araraume's speculated governorship bid in 2019 is believed to be the propelling factor he is backing the former Imo House of Assembly Speaker.

However, Araraume’s confidant and former media aide to the former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha has faulted the senator’s support for his former boss.

In an email press statement to INNONEWS.COM, Samuelson cautioned Araraume to cease his support for Uwajumuogu.    

  

Part of Iwuoha’s statement stated “Although he (Araraume) has the democratic right to support anybody of his choice, Benjamin Uwajumogu must never be allowed to come between us.

 “Senator Araraume is a great leader of repute with enough political credentials, capable of fetching him Nigeria’s Presidency or Imo Governorship in 2019. His continued support for Uwajumogu will destroy those credentials. His support for Uwajumogu will destroy his political career. Distinguished Senator 

"Araraume should desist from supporting Benjamin Uwajumogu, a man who is currently under investigation by ICPC, EFCC, Force Headquarters (FCID) and other security agencies for various crimes" he said

Iwuoha made several allegations against the former Speaker.

However, those in support of the candidature of the former speaker say he is only a victim of serial blackmail and will certainly win the re run polls.

We are sure of victory. We have people oriented leaders in the APC in Okigwe zone and we are sure the former speaker who performed to our expectations when he was in the House will run the re- run polls” said Jeff Ezeagu, an APC chieftain in the area.