IF the information reaching 247ureports.com is anything to go by, then victory is assured for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Imo State.
A source close to the former Imo governor told 247ureports.com that Chief Achike Udenwa and PDP governorship aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume were involved were engaged in a strategic meeting on Valentine’s Day.
According to the source, the meeting which held in Udenwa’s home town, Amaifeke was meant to personally appeal to Araraume to forgive the PDP and its guber candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha over the December primaries which he lost to the deputy speaker.
The ex-governor was said to have described Araraume as a great leader with a hero’s might.
The source added that Udenwa explained to the senator the need for him to bury the hatchet and ensure the PDP wins the governorship election as according to him, the senator’s disinclination to Ihedioha’s candidacy would spell doom for the party.
He was said to have promised Araraume whatever position he would want to occupy at the federal level when PDP would have returned back to power.
Reacting, Araraume was said to have told the ex-governor that it would not be so easy for him to let go of the PDP governorship ticket most importantly because of the insult Ihedioha had openly given to him.
He was said to have reminded Udenwa that Ihedioha rather than find a way of appeasing him, went as far as describing him as a “serial loser” in an election he was robbed of.
He however promised to consult his associates and supporters before giving definite answers to the request.
This is even as he reminded the former governor that it would be good that he dispensed with the ongoing court case he has with the conduct of the election primaries.
The former two-time senator is disputing the outcome of the PDP governorship primaries at an Abuja Federal High Court.
Araraume and Udenwa were judged political cat and mouse during the latter’s reign as Imo State Governor between 1999- 2007. Udenwa was among top politicians in Imo State who opposed Araraume’s victory of the PDP 2006 governorship primaries.
Both reconciled after then and formed a strategic alliance in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, that gave then Governor Ikedi Ohakim of the PDP a fight in 2006.
Araraume lost the guber elections placing a distant third in the contest, behind Rochas Okorocha who won the election and Ikedi Ohakim who came second.
Udenwa later moved to the APC ,while Araraume strayed back to the PDP. Udenwa later rejoined the PDP after suffering political suffocation from Governor Rochas Okorocha in the APC.
The recent meeting of the two leaders is one that will turn things around for the PDP and get Ihedioha to win the governorship contest.
