Okigwe Senate Bye Election: Drama In APC, PDP Silent On Cost Of Nomination Forms

BY CONSTANCE EKE

The Okigwe Senate bye election is throwing up some drama in some of the major political parties, as Primary to elect candidates draws near.

In the All Progressive Congress, APC, a consensus approach to elect a candidate has been put in place just as the party has put the cost of Nomination and Expression Of Interest forms at N7m.

Analysts say the consensus approach is considered in some quarters as a ploy  by Governor Hope Uzodinma, to keep Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, out of the equation and possibly, choke his efforts to become the Party’s flag-bearer for the APC for Okigwe senate contest

The consensus approach has been embraced by all the aspirants except Araraume who was absent at a meeting the aspirants attended at the weekend where the option of a consensus candidate was muted. 

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Cosmas Iwu, Housing Commissioner, Love Ineh, were appointed  Chairman and Secretary of the committee to shop for a consensus candidate.

However, an Owerri local tabloid sympathetic to Senator Araraume claimed that all processes leading to the primary will be conducted by the national caretaker committee of the APC in Abuja.

It also claimed that September 3 has been fixed as date of the primary and sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms will be done at the party Secretariat, in Abuja.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  the Imo State chapter, Monday released guidelines and time table from the National Working Committee, of the party for the Okigwe senate bye election.

A statement signed by Law Biaduo, State Organizing Secretary of the party, was however silent on the cost of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for aspirants for Okigwe Senate seat.

It however stated that “sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms will commence on Monday August 17, – Saturday, August 22, 2020.

According to the statement, there will be ward and local government congresses to elect delegates that will take part in the Primary to elect a candidate scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 5, 2020.

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