Anxiety As Uzodinma Rebuffs Ararume In Imo North

By GWG Staff

Political stakeholders in Imo State are expressing anxiety as the political machines of Governor Hope Uzodinma and that of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume prepare strategies ahead of the bye-election into the vacant Imo North Senate seat.

Sources disclosed that Senator Ararume who has quietly returned to the All Progressives Congress, APC is preparing to re-contest for the seat he occupied between 1999 and 2007.

The seat became vacant last December following the sudden death of the former occupant, Senator Ben Uwajumogu.

Among others who have also indicated interest are Dr. Chidimma Uwajumogu, the late senator’s sister, Senator Athan Achonu, Mark Uchendu ( former SSG under Okorocha) and Chikwem Onuoha who was a top aide in the Ikedi Ohakim regime.

While the ambition of Dr. Uwajumogu to replace her brother is increasingly captivating some, especially given her own political prowess and connections in Abuja, the ambition of Senator Ararume is said to be provoking tension in the camp of the governor.

Ararume has one of the most organized political structures in the state and following his two terms in the Senate had successively contested for the governorship but has not succeeded.

The ambition of the billionaire businessman and lawyer to go to the Senate became an issue following the altered political dynamics in the state after the January 2020 declaration of Senator Uzodinma as governor.

Ararume had contested the last governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and came third after Emeka Ihedioha and Uche Nwosu who were returned as winner and runner-up in the election.

Uzodinma came fourth but was returned by the Supreme Court as the winner of the election last January.

Ararume’s decision to now seek the vacant Senate seat has raised apprehension in the camp of the governor which is said to be firmly opposed to the bid.

A source gave two reasons for the apparent opposition.

It was gathered that the camp of the governor was afraid of the prospect of Ararume teaming with Senator Rochas Okorocha to fight the governor in the future.
“It is a prospect that Hope will not want at all. The two of them will join together to fight Hope,” the top source revealed.

One senior APC chieftain close to the governor who spoke on condition of anonymity told GWG:

“It depends on the governor but it is certainly not Ararume.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is yet to set a date for the election apparently because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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