Imo North bye-election: CampHope romances with APGA

• To adopt party candidate, Onyirimba
• Okorocha’s group, coalition back Araraume

Indication emerged at the weekend that a faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC under the leadership of Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, that has the backing of Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma is currently romancing with the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and maybe supporting massively its candidate for the forthcoming Okigwe senatorial zone bye-election.

Our source revealed that the faction popularly referred to as CampHope would rather prefer any other person to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, having known, according to them, his antecedents.

However, a source close to Araraume also revealed that (Araraume) is not moved by the sudden romance, and has told his supporters not to panic.

A group operating on the aegis of Imo North League of Professionals, INLP has also alleged that the impeachment of Hon. Chiji Collins, the former speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, was part of the plot by the CampHope faction of the APC to stop Araraume from winning the December 5, 2020, Imo North senatorial district bye-election.

According to the chairman of INLP, the CampHope faction are of the view that the former speaker who is said to be an Araraume “boy” if allowed to remain the speaker would use his position to influence the outcome of the election in favour of his former boss who is the last person Uzodimma’s camp would want to win.

Recall that the former Imo State House of Assembly speaker, Chiji Collins was impeached last Friday through a motion supported by 20 of the 27-member legislature.

He was accused of financial misconduct, high handedness, among other issues and was replaced by the member representing Onuimo State Constituency, Paul Emeziem.

Meanwhile, former Imo Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha and members of his political structure under the rescue mission has vowed to work hard towards ensuring the victory of Araraume.

Okorocha who spoke while meeting with his former commissioners, APC state executive and selected leaders from each of the LGAs in the state at the weekend according to his Media Adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, explained that APC in Imo does not have an internal problem, as who the party’s leadership falls under has been properly defined by the court, and that Imo APC is under the leadership of Daniel Nwafor.

There are also unconfirmed reports that the coalition faction are also working assiduously to ensure Araraume emerges.