Governor Hope Uzodimma and his allies are now having the upper hand as against the duo of Senator Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, over whose candidate should emerge at the Imo North All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election.
At the concluded primary held last Thursday, the result declared at Okigwe local government area as conducted by the Senator Ajibola Bashiru, Election panel sent by the party’s caretaker committee, declared Frank Ibeziem as the winner of the primary election.
In the election results declared by the Bashiru led election panel, Ibezim polled 13,637 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mathew Omegara who polled 2,826 votes.
Other result as announced are Ifeanyi Araraume ,2,708, Athan Achonu, 1,185, Mark Uchendu, 1,438, Chidinma Uwajumogu, 105, Eze Okoro, 54, Bright Nwachukwu, 67, Chikwem Onuoha 1,456 and Acho Ihim.
Also, the Bashiru led election panel had submitted their results to the party’s caretaker committee at the national headquarters in Abuja, and it has been sealed and delivered.
But Okorocha led group of Daniel Nwa for had declared Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as their own senatorial candidate.
A close source to Araraume’s camp said that there are plans to explore the courts as a means of getting the APC ticket or look into decamping to another party.
It should be recalled that the APC caretaker committee/extra ordinary convention committee, led by Mai Mala Buni, who is the Yobe state governor, had screened and cleared all the aspirants to contest the primary.
The were eleven aspirants who scaled through included; Senator Athan Achonu, Chikwem Onuoha, Acho Ihim, Mark Uchendu, Frank Ibezim, Eze Okoro, Osy Nwebo, , Bright Nwachukwu, Matthew Omegara, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Chidimma Uwajumogu.
In another development, nine aspirants who took part in the APC Imo North primary said they have agreed to support Ibeziem win the main election adding that doing so would strength the party in winning the October 31st election as well as future elections in the zone.
They took this decision at the government House in Owerri, when they (aspirants) alongside the leadership of Imo APC, led by Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, visited governor Hope Uzodimma, to present to him the APC senatorial candidate.
According to Uzodimma, “What happened in the APC, primaries was a victory for our party and democracy. If we want to enjoy democracy we must allow free and fair process which we have achieved.
