Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri
There was controversy on Wednesday after a former commissioner for commerce and Industry in Imo state, Ifeanyi Araraume Junior emerged the senatorial candidate of Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial district.
This was even as the original candidate, Okorondu Nwachukwu, rejected the development.
Nwachukwu told our correspondent in a telephone conversation that he remained the authentic candidate of the party for the senatorial district.
He informed our correspondent that he had filed an action in court to challenge the "illegal emergence" of Araraume.
Nwachukwu accused the state chairman of Labour Party, Amby Onyekwere, of conniving with non members of the party to cause disaffection in the party.
He disowned a letter wherein he allegedly wrote withdrawing his participation in the election.
Nwachukwu said that his signature was forged and vowed to get justice in court.
He said " please don't mind what they called Labour Party primary going on in Isiala Mbano for Imo North Senatorial district. I am the candidate of the Labour Party and I didn't withdraw from the election. I didn't write any letter. I am in Abuja and I am in court."
Araraume, while addressing LP members at Isiala Mbano Local Government Area on Wednesday said that his candidacy would ensure victory for the party.
The candidate in company of state officials of the party, said that the process that produced him was credible.
Araraume whose father, Ifeanyi Araraume senior was in the Senate between 1999 and 2007, had contested and lost Peoples Democratic Party senatorial ticket for the district on May 25 to a businessman, Emma Okewulonu.
The LP chairman of the party in the state, hung up on our correspondent after he introduced himself to him.
He refused to pick subsequent calls put across to his mobile line.
But a lawyer, Emeka Ihejirika, said that Araraume's candidacy would not see the light of the day.
Ihejirika, said that the new electoral act makes it impossible for anybody to "highjack" another person's mandate.
He said that Nwachukwu would regain his mandate in court.
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