BY EBERE EKECHI
The long awaited Okigwe senate election, holds on December 5, 2020, as 14 candidates of various political parties vie for Okigwe senate seat. The seat became vacant after the death of Senator Benjamin Uwajumuogu, who died in December 2019.
Analysts contend that candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are in pole position to win the contest. The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, is also making strong presence in the contest, with it’s candidate, Chibuike Onyirimba, making a second attempt.
Despite the division rocking the APC, with two candidates, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim, campaigning for the polls, the party has been adjudged the “party to beat in the contest” ostensibly because of its firm hold in the zone.
The Federal High Court, Owerri, had sacked Ibezim as candidate of the party and replaced him with Arararume.
The matter is however before the Appeal Court, Owerri, which has reserved judgement on the matter.
This has prompted both candidates to be on the campaign trail, with the Ibezim camp hoping that in the long run, he may be restored as candidate of the party, and in variably votes cast for the APC in the December 5 election will become his and see him through to the senate.
The PDP candidate, Emmanuel Okewulonu is a major contender having garnered considerable support for his aspiration in recent times, and may explore the division in the APC, to ride to victory.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, had on Wednesday, had called for the disqualification of the All Progressive Congress, APC from the election for fielding two candidates for the election.
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