Former Abia Governor Theodore Orji Quits PDP After Years of Party Influence
Former Abia State Governor and two-term senator, Theodore Orji, has formally withdrawn his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), bringing an end to more than a decade of association with the party.
His resignation was conveyed in a letter addressed to the chairman of his Umuahia Ward 1 and circulated to the media on Saturday.
Orji, who governed Abia State between 2007 and 2015, first emerged as governor under the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) before defecting to the PDP in 2011 following a long-standing feud with his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu. He later secured a second term in office on the PDP’s platform and proceeded to represent Abia Central in the Senate from 2015 to 2023.
His exit comes after a wave of defections that shook the PDP in 2024. Notably, his son, former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji, left the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC). His wife had also earlier renounced her PDP membership.
In his resignation letter, the former governor said his decision followed extensive consultations.
“I write to formally tender my resignation from membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective immediately,” Orji stated. “This decision has been taken after wide consultations with family and associates. I appreciate the opportunities and experiences gained during my time as a member of the party. Please accept this letter as a formal notice of my withdrawal.”
His next political move remains unclear.
