Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State have formally petitioned the party’s National Screening Committee, demanding the disqualification of former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, from the party’s House of Representatives primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The petition, signed by lead counsel Chinemelu Nwaizugbe Andrews and submitted to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on May 8, 2026, cited multiple active criminal proceedings against the former Speaker and warned that fielding him as a candidate would expose the party to serious legal and reputational damage.
The petition stated that Orji is a second defendant in an active and ongoing 16-count criminal trial for an alleged N60.85 billion fraud, in suit number HU/69C/2024, before Justice Lilian Abai of the Abia State High Court, styled Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji and three others.
The EFCC had in February 2025 arraigned former Governor Theodore Orji, Chinedum Orji, and four others over the alleged misappropriation of N47 billion. Others named in the case include a former Abia State Commissioner for Finance, Phillip Nto; a government contractor, Obioma King; and a former finance director in the state, Romas Madu.
Multiple Cases, Multiple Fronts
The petition did not stop at the EFCC trial. The petitioners drew the committee’s attention to a separate case involving the interim forfeiture of over ₦228.4 million allegedly linked to diverted state funds suit FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025 which resulted in a Federal High Court order temporarily forfeiting the funds while investigations continue.
The petitioners further alleged that EFCC affidavits had identified the former Speaker as a conspirator in the diversion of public funds through a waste management company.
A further civil suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/75/2026, was also cited in which a civil society group sought an order of mandamus compelling the EFCC to complete the prosecution of the Orji family. The petition warned that this suit ensures the aspirant will remain a constant target of legal action throughout the 2027 election cycle and could result in an embarrassing judicial order against him should he become the party’s candidate.
The petitioners also alleged that the ICPC is separately reviewing petitions connected to Orji’s period as Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly.
Petitioners’ Demands
The aggrieved members asked the Screening Committee to compel Orji to produce his bail order and an ICPC clearance letter during his mandatory screening interview, to confirm that he had not misled the party in his nomination forms.
Invoking the APC Constitution, Article 31(2) of the Federal Primary Guidelines 2026, and the Electoral Act 2026, the petition formally demanded the disqualification of Chinedum Orji to protect the party’s corporate integrity and electoral mandate, urging the party to verify the accuracy of disclosures made in his nomination forms against EFCC and ICPC records.
“Our clients believe that fielding a candidate currently under a multi-billion naira indictment for financial crimes poses a future legal disability for the APC,” lead counsel Nwaizugbe stated. “We have urged the Screening Committee to exercise its administrative discretion to protect the party’s integrity.”
Escalation Threat
The petitioners warned that if their demands are ignored, they may escalate the matter to the APC Screening Appeal Committee and potentially approach the Federal High Court.
The APC is expected to conclude screening for House of Representatives aspirants on May 12, with the final list of cleared candidates scheduled for release on May 13.
As of the time of filing this report, Chinedum Orji, Theodore Orji, and APC officials had not publicly responded to the petition.
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