A Chieftain of the Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has stated that the party is not aware of the defection of the former Abia State House of Assembly Speaker, Chinedum Orji into the party.
This was made public by the APC Publicity Secretary in Abia State, Offor Okorie. The Chieftain faulted the manner the former Speaker has gone about his defection into APC, Abia State Chapter.
Recall that the former Speaker, had on Tuesday defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC from his former PDP.
Orji was received and issued the APC membership card by the party State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu.
Orji had on Monday, May 6, 2024, tendered his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He gave as reason for his resignation on some issues rocking the party in the State.
However, Okorie, while reacting in a statement on Wednesday, described the entry of members of the former ruling PDP into the progressive party as an energizer. He said their entry will boost the strength of the party for future elections.
The Chieftain, however, reminded the decampees that APC is a national party that is guided by the Constitution. He informed them that Constitutional stipulates ways of defection and registration.
Making allusion to the decamping of Orji into the APC, Okorie, said “All registration is done at the ward level.”
“That is what our party Constitution stated 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. And calling yourself an APC member.
“Things are not done that way. Honorable Chinedum Orji, as a former Speaker, should know how things are done properly when it comes to defection. You go to the local ward and register. What he did in an office in Umuahia as being circulated on social media is illegal and unconstitutional.
“The national officers of the party from Abia State and major stakeholders are not even aware of his defection. Some saw it on social media platforms and started calling me to confirm if it was true. And as much as we welcome defectors from PDP, their coming into the party should be constitutional”.
source: Daily Post