By Charles Igbo
The Rt. Hon Chinedu Orji, a son of Senator Theodore Orji, a former Governor of Abia State, has dumped his political party of many years, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The younger Orji, popular as Ikuku, in his years in the PDP, was a very powerful and influential member. When his father was the Governor, he was so powerful that not a few people referred to him as the de facto Governor of Abia State. The ante of his influence and power was raised higher than ever when he was elected to the State House of Assembly, and ultimately became the Speaker under the Administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
But his influence began to wane when he had a running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged issues which took place during his father’s Governorship of the State. It waned further over the seemingly unpopularity of Ikpeazu as a Governor, and was worsened by the the popularity of the Labour Party in the State.
So, when in 2023, he contested for the Federal House of Representatives, neither his influence, his father’s influence, nor that of Ikpeazu who was the Governor at that time, helped him to win his election. He failed. Since then, he, the embattled Ikpeazu and the PDP, have had little or no influence in the affairs of Abia State.
However, two days ago, the younger Orji took his fate in his hands. The tsunami which has suddenly hit the PDP in the South-east recently, hit him. He dumped the PDP, according to him, after deep thoughts and consultations and considerations. Hours later, the former Speaker showed his hands as to where he is headed to. He declared for the APC, the ruling party at the Federal level.
He has since registered in his Ward for his new Party, and has been welcomed by the leadership of the APC in the State. It is not yet clear if his father, the former Governor, is still a member of the PDP or not. He was, until the 2023 Senatorial election, the Senator for his Abia Central District.
