Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State have asked the party’s National Screening Committee to disqualify Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, son of former Governor Theodore Orji, from participating in the party’s House of Representatives primary election.
Chinedum Orji, a former speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, recently declared his intention to contest the Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency seat ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a petition signed by lawyer Chinemelu Nwaizugbe Andrews on behalf of concerned APC members in the constituency, the group argued that allowing Mr Orji to contest could expose the party to legal and reputational risks.
The petition cited provisions of the APC Constitution, the party’s primary election guidelines and the Electoral Act 2026, saying the party must consider the “moral and legal fitness” of aspirants.
According to the petition, Mr Orji is currently standing trial in an ongoing 16-count criminal case involving alleged fraud amounting to N60.85 billion. The case, marked HU/69C/2024, is before Justice Lilian Abai of the Abia State High Court.
The petition stated that he was arraigned on February 28, 2025, and granted bail in the sum of N50 million.
The group also referenced an interim forfeiture case involving N228.4 million before the Federal High Court in Abuja. It alleged that an affidavit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) identified Mr Orji as a co-conspirator in the alleged diversion of funds through Effdee Nigeria Limited.
The petition further pointed to a separate suit seeking to compel the EFCC to conclude the prosecution of the Orji family, warning that the matter could remain active throughout the 2027 election cycle if Mr Orji emerges as the APC candidate.
The petitioners urged the APC to follow what they described as the party’s precedent of screening out aspirants facing criminal charges in order to protect its electoral prospects.
They also asked the party to verify details submitted in Mr Orji’s nomination documents against records held by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In February 2025, the EFCC arraigned former Governor Theodore Orji, Chinedum Orji and four others over the alleged misappropriation of N47 billion.
Those arraigned alongside them included former Abia finance commissioner Phillip Nto, government contractor Obioma King and former finance director Romas Madu
Attempts to get comments from the Orji family and the APC spokesperson were unsuccessful as of press time.
