APC Chieftain Offor Okorie Criticizes Defection Process in Abia State

Offor Okorie, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized the recent defection of the immediate-past speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji, and his loyalists to the APC.

Okorie highlighted the need for proper adherence to the party’s constitution in the defection process.

Chinedum Orji, the former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, defected to the ruling APC on Tuesday and was issued the APC membership card by the State Chairman of the Party in Abia, Kingsley Ononogbu.

The defection trend in Abia State continued with Enyinnaya Orji, son of former governor Theodore Orji, tendering his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, citing issues within the party.

In response, Okorie stated, “All registration is done at the ward level according to the party constitution, and not on someone’s table.

You cannot go to anybody’s office, fill out a form, collect a broom, and dance to your house with your supporters calling yourself an APC member.”

He emphasized that the proper procedure for defection involves going to the local ward and registering, which he claims was not followed in Chinedum Orji’s case.

Okorie expressed concern that the national officers of the party from Abia State and major stakeholders were not informed about Orji’s defection and only learned about it through social media platforms.

While welcoming defectors from the PDP, Okorie stressed the importance of adhering to the party’s constitution in the defection process, describing Orji’s actions as illegal and unconstitutional.