STATEMENT BY RT. HON. CHINEDUM ENYINNAYA ORJI, FNSE, FORMER SPEAKER, ABIA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) AND JOINING THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I bring you greetings and the best regards of the day.
As widely publicized, I resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, May 6, 2024 and on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, I was at the Abia State Party Office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where I registered to become a member of the APC. I was received by the State Party Chairman, the Chairman of the Party in Umuahia North Local Government Area and the Chairman of my Ward, Urban Ward One among other Party Executives.
Despite the wide publicity which my actions have generated, I feel I owe it to my friends and political associates to carry you along on the process and reasons for taking the steps I took.
I have been a staunch member and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party for years now and I have contributed immeasurably to the fortunes of the Party in Abia State and beyond.
I also place on record that I have been a beneficiary of the Party having gotten the Party tickets on 3 occasions to contest elections. It is also under the auspices of the Party that I became a Member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Majority Leader of that House and ultimately, the Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.
I therefore owe gratitude to the Peoples Democratic Party for the platforms they have given me to fulfill my political aspirations.
However, in the build up to the 2023 general elections and in the aftermath of that election, the Peoples Democratic Party engaged in activities that were inimical to the peace, progress and cohesion of the Party which caused it catastrophic political losses. Expectations that the Party would conduct an introspective review of its outing in that election and embark on an honest process of healing wounds and rallying it’s Members to forge a common front going forward were disappointingly not met.
At this stage in my life, my decisions and actions are no longer about me. I have a lot of followers who rely on me for political guidance and our trajectories are intertwined. As a political leader, I have to take stock and take steps that serve the best interest of my followers.
It is for that reason that after due consideration and consultation with relevant Stakeholders, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress. The Peoples Democratic Party, as is presently constituted and run, does not hold promises for the political advancement of its Members and it has become imperative that I lead my followers to where they stand better chances of political advancement.
As I stated earlier, I have been a strong pillar and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party over the years and we have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Since it is not in my nature to spit on where I have once eaten, I would not be delving into the details of the derailment of the Party. I thank them for the opportunities that they gave to me and I wish them well.
I wish to thank my new Party for the warm reception accorded me and my followers. I consulted extensively with the Leaders of the APC in Abia State and beyond before taking this step and I am excited about the prospects for the APC in Abia State and beyond going forward. I pledge my loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda to develop our Nation. I salute especially the leaders of the APC at all levels and thank them for opening their doors to me and my followers. I pledge to deploy my considerable wealth of experience and capacities to strengthen the fortunes of the Party in Abia State and beyond. I also pledge to abide by the rules and regulations of the Party.
As for my teaming followers and supporters, I thank you all for your unprecedented and humbling faith in me by following me unquestioningly in this new direction. I promise to ensure that your interests are protected at all times.
Our road is far, our future is assured and together, we shall achieve our individual and collective aspirations.
Thank you.
Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji,
FNSE,FNICE
Former Speaker
Abia State House of Assembly
Umuahia.
May 8, 2024.
