Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State have asked the party to disqualify Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, son of former Governor Theodore Orji, from participating in the party’s primary election for the House of Representatives seat in Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency.
In a petition submitted to the APC National Screening Committee, the group cited ongoing fraud cases and reputational concerns as reasons for the request.
Chinedum Orji, a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, recently declared his intention to contest the seat in the 2027 elections.
The petition, signed by lawyer Chinemelu Nwaizugbe Andrews, referenced an ongoing 16-count criminal trial involving alleged fraud amounting to over N60 billion. It stated that Orji was arraigned in February 2025 and granted bail of N50 million.
The petition also mentioned an interim forfeiture case involving N228.4 million, in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission allegedly identified Orji as a co-conspirator.
The petitioners argued that allowing him to contest could damage the APC’s image and electoral chances. They urged the party to verify details in his nomination documents with records from the EFCC and ICPC.
In February 2025, the EFCC arraigned former Governor Theodore Orji, Chinedum Orji, and others over alleged misappropriation of N47 billion.
Neither Chinedum Orji nor APC officials had commented on the petition at the time of reporting.
