Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Wednesday swore to thwart the plans of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume to realize his gubernatorial ambition in the state.

In a press statement issued in Owerri, the state capital through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwemeodo, the governor, who last week declared his intention to run in the Imo West Senatorial District elections in 2019 said Araraume would never govern the state.

The governor further stressed that his son in-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu would be the next governor of the state while his current deputy, Prince Eze Madumere will vie for the Imo East Senatorial District.

Okorocha said: “But I want to say this for the sake of emphasis. Senator Ifeanyi Araraume cannot win the ticket of APC for the 2019 guber in the state and can never govern the state. So people should not allow themselves to be deceived.

“In 2007, he won the ticket of PDP and failed the main election. In 2011, he also had the ticket of ACN and came fourth in the election. In 2015, he also failed the PDP primary. So, what magic would he perform in 2019?

“You may ask, where were these elements when the PDP foot soldiers were invading Imo and South-East in general with soldiers and other security agents?” he querried.

While describing himself as the strongest pillar of the APC in the South-East, Okorocha said he remained supportive of the John Odigie-Oyegun led National Executive Committee of the party, dismissing insinuations that he was opposed to the extension of the tenure of the party’s executive committee members.