Despite emerging from different political camps within the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State, this newspaper has stumbled on a strategic meeting convened by leaders of the Allied Forces also known as Coalition of Imo APC stakeholders in Abuja to shop for a consensus candidate in their fold for the governorship position.
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Also, there are indications that the same method will be applied for other elective positions.
This newspaper was informed that the need to have consensus candidates especially for the governorship position is anchored on the need to preserve, maintain unity and cohesion among top politicians in the Coalition.
The Imo APC Coalition is a loose group of politicians opposed to plans by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha to have his son in law take over the reins of governance of the State in 2019.
As part of the strategy to achieve its aims, the Coalition succeeded in taking control of the party at all levels during Congresses. The Congresses was recently nullified by a Federal High Court in Owerri.
With Primaries fast approaching,a top level source in the Coalition told this newspaper that the need for a consensus arose in order to forestall any uncertainty, disunity and bickering in the fold since they still have the camp of Governor Rochas Okorocha to contend with.
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Before the APC congresses, it was gathered that public office seekers in the Coalition agreed to subsume their ambitions at that time and work as a family to wrestle the soul of the party from the grip of Governor Rochas Okoroca.
“We agreed that after the congress, all those who have ambitions in the Coalition will then come out and aspire for positions of their choice. We resolved that each aspirant will go on his own and aspire for whatever he wants, a case of too your tenth oh Isreal” a source in the Coalition said.
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However, that plan seem to have changed as fresh considerations came into play which necessitated the need for top levels talks currently ongoing among leaders of the Coalition in Abuja.
The idea of consensus, especially among the contending forces aspiring for the governorship was said to be a good idea in advancing the cause of the Coalition.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume is said to be gaining the upper hand in the consensus arrangement despite the fierce interest of the State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and a former Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Jude Ejiogu.
Madumere who is facing impeachment threats from members of the Imo State House of Assembly and Ejiogu, according to sources are also favoured based on the strong agitation for Owerri Zone to produce the next governor of the State.
