Legal representatives for concerned members of the All Progressives Congress in the Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency have petitioned the APC National Screening Committee to disqualify Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, the son of former Governor Theodore Orji, from the party’s primary elections.

The ex-governor’s son wants to run for the House of Representatives.

Mr Orji, the former speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, recently declared his intention to contest the Ikwuano/Umuahia constituency in 2027.

The petition, signed by lead counsel Chinemelu Nwaizugbe Andrews and obtained by the Peoples Gazette, cited the legal and reputational risks to the party’s corporate image and electoral prospects if Mr Orji participates in the exercise.

“This petition is grounded in the APC Constitution (Article [31][2]) of the Federal Primary Guidelines 26 and the Electoral Act, 2026, specifically regarding the “moral and legal fitness of candidates. We formally demand the disqualification of Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji to protect corporate integrity and electoral mandate,” the petition stated.  

Citing grounds for Mr Orji’s disqualification, the petition said the aspirant was a second defendant in an active and ongoing 16-count criminal trial for N60.85 billion fraud (suit number HU/69C/2024, Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji and three others before Justice Lilian Abai of the Abia State High Court.  

“He was arraigned on February 28, 2025 and remains on a N50 million bail,” it stated.

According to the petition, Mr Orji was also linked to the uncontested interim forfeiture of N228.4 million (suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025) before Justice Emeke Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

It explained that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s supporting affidavit, deposed by Tahir Ibrahim, explicitly named Mr Orji as a principal co-conspirator in the diversion of the funds via Effdee Nigeria Limited.

The petition also called the attention of the APC to a live judicial threat in suit number. FHC/ABJ/CS/75/2026, in which a civil society group sought an order of mandamus to compel the EFCC to complete the prosecution of the Orji family.

“The 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 Rt Hon. Chinedum Orji should be become the party’s candidate,” it added.

The petition said the ruling APC had a clear precedent of disqualifying aspirants with pending criminal cases to protect its electoral mandate, urging the party to disqualify Mr Orji from the primary contest.

It also urged the ruling party to “verify the veracity of the disclosures made in his nomination forms against the EFCC and ICPC records”.

In February 2025, the EFCC arraigned Mr Orji and his son, Chinedum, over the alleged misappropriation of N47 billion. They were arraigned alongside an ex-finance commissioner, Phillip Nto, a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former finance director in Abia, Romas Madu.

The Orjis and the APC spokesperson could not be reached immediately for comment.