Former two – time Senator fromImoState, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume is said to be under intensive pressure to withdraw his case against the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC over the supplement Governorship election in the state in 2011.
It would be recalled that Senator Araraume, the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN in the last Governorship election in Imo state had approached the Federal High Court Abuja, to help him decipher if there is anything like a supplementary election in the Electoral Act, and if not, to explain if the supplementary election that look place in Imo was proper.
Araraume in the said election came third, behind Dr Ikedi Ohakim of the PDP, and now Governor Rochas Okorocha of APGA, who carried the day.
Sources told Imo Trumpeta that following studies and analysis by legal luminaries over the said matter, Araraume has been besieged by forces working for a certain candidate in the said election to soft pedal by withdrawing the case.
Imo Trumpeta was informed that the former Senator was asked to name what it would take him to withdraw the case, for which he replied that the whole Gold inGhana cannot make him change his mind.
The fear of those luring Araraume, it was said, is that the matter looks dicey as it is the first of its kind in the Electoral Litigations inNigeriaand will serve as a precedent and reference point in Nigerian Laws, and therefore would be a “straight case without bends”.
Araraume is said to be angry not against Okorocha particularly, but to Dr Achike Udenwa, who used and dumped him again during the last election, only to now pitch tent went APGA and Okorocha, leaving Araraume to carry the can.
In other words, the litigation is both a political revenge and legal test for the Senator from Isiebu, in Isiala Mbano LGA, who used the courts to fight PDP to a stand – still for the party’s guber ticket in 2007.
It would be recalled that Araraume has fallen a political victim and prey to Udenwa twice now. The first time was after Araraume gave him all the support while Udenwa was Governor, thinking that he would succeed his friend, only to be given a bruised nose by Udenwa, who preferred other aspirants.
Trusting Udenwa again, Araraume had pitched tent with Udenwa in ACN in the last election. While Araraume ran for governorship, Udenwa went for Orlu Senatorial seat.
But on the day of election, Udenwa entered into bargain with Okorocha of APGA, and abandoned his party’s candidate and friend, Araraume.
However, it was Hope Uzodinma, the PDP’s candidate that stopped Udenwa’s conspiracy by winning the Orlu Senate seat.
Today, Udenwa dines and wines with Okorocha at Government House Owerri, while Araraume has become the scapegoat.
But the case against INEC by Araraume will prove the double barrel attack to get at both Udenwa and his brother Okorocha.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that the high profile case will be coming up on October 8, 2012 and would be given accelerated hearing, as not only Imo State, but the whole Nigerian political class are waiting to hear if supplementary election exists in Nigeria Electoral Books or not.
This case without doubt, is creating tension in Government House, Owerri. The reason is that no case is small or too big for an elected officer as anything can happen. It happened inEdoStatebetween Oshiomole and erstwhile Governor Osunbor. It also happened recently inAnambraStatewhere the wife of Late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo is suddenly a Senator today.
But of most importance is that, should the courts rule against the novel of a supplementary election in Nigeria electoral history it therefore swings the pendulum in favour of PDP in the last guber election in Imo, since the courts had already accepted the results of the Oguta Assembly elections.
This scenario and other developing factors make this Araraume versus INEC a dicey and tight situation for other candidates in that election. Worst still, Senator Araraume is not giving in the pressure.
