Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
On a day Nigeria’s former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gathered in the ancient city of Ibadan for its controversial national convention, former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, resigned from the party.
Orji, popularly known as Ochendo Global, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of his Umuahia Urban Ward 1. The letter was made available to journalists on Saturday.
The former governor, who represented Abia Central in the 8th and 9th Senate, first won the Abia governorship election in 2007 on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). He later joined the PDP in 2011 after falling out with his predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.
Orji completed his second term as governor on the PDP platform and proceeded to the Senate in 2015, where he served for eight years.
The ex-governor’s resignation comes amid a series of defections that have rocked the PDP in Abia. His son and former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2024. His wife had also left the PDP earlier.
In his letter, Orji stated: “I write to formally tender my resignation from membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective immediately. This decision has been taken after wide consultations with family and associates. I appreciate the opportunities and experiences gained during my time in the party. Please accept this letter as formal notice of my withdrawal.”
The PDP in Abia has recently witnessed several high-profile defections, including that of former state chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka, who also joined the APC.
