Abia polls: Controversy over disqualification of Gov Orji’s son

Controversy is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the decision of the national leadership to overrule its screening appeal panel, which disqualified Engr. Chinedu Orji, son of Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji and others from contesting next year’s state House of Assembly election.


The screening appeal panel of the PDP had disqualified Orji and other aspirants from Abia State from contesting in the 2015 elections over some issues raised in petitions against their aspiration.

According to the report of the screening panel, made up of Augustus Mbanali (chairman), Emmanuel Ogunsalu (member) and Emeka Odenigwe (member/secretary), allegations in petitions against Governor Orji’s son, over his university days, were so weighty that he should be dis¬qualified from participating in the election, in the interest of the party’s electoral fortune.

Also, the panel was piqued that Chinedu earlier refused to appear before the state screening panel to answer to the allegations in the petitions, saying that this was a disrespect to the party and abuse of privileges.

In its report, the appeal panel stated: “The first petition against the aforementioned aspirant (Chinedu Orji), who happened to be the son of the incumbent governor, stated that he failed to appear in person before the state screening committee of the party, which sat at the state PDP headquarters during the screening exercise from the 6th-7th of November at the party office. The petitioner regarded the action of the aspirant as nonchalant, a disrespectful attitude and an abuse of privilege, thereby denigrating the officials of the screening committee of our great party. The petitioner pleaded that the party discipline must be maintained at all times, so as to ensure that the tenets and core values of our great party, the PDP, be sustained.”

In recommending Chinedu’s disqualification, based on this, the screening appeal panel cited Section 10 (F) of PDP constitution, which provides: “A party member shall observe discipline, behave honestly and carry out loyally all decisions of the majority and decisions of the higher organs of the party.”
On the second petition against Chinedu, which bordered on his university days, the panel report stated: “The petition was too grievous to ignore due to the combined effects of Part VI, Section 33 of the guidelines for the party primaries and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)” and there¬fore recommended Chinedu’s disqualification.
Other cases handled by the screening appeal panel included that of one Mrs. Nkemdirim Iheasimuo (Aba South), who was also disqualified, likewise Chikwendu Kalu (Isiala Ngwa South).
Reacting to the disqualification, however, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has overruled the party’s screening appeal panel.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, declared that the appeal panel was not empowered, either by the party’s constitution or its guidelines to disqualify any aspirant that has been cleared by its screening committee.
The statement reads in part: “Following enquiries by our members, especially aspirants, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to announce that all aspirants who have been cleared by different screening committees for the purpose of our primary elections should disregard any purported disqualification by screening appeal panels.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the screening appeal panels are neither authorized by our electoral guidelines nor by the constitution of the PDP to disqualify aspirants already cleared by the screening committees. In this regard, the NWC declares all such dis¬qualifications by appeal panels null and void, as they clearly violate laid down rules as well as the principles of natural justice and good conscience.
“Consequently, the NWC hereby directs all affected aspirants to ignore such dis¬qualifications and move ahead with preparations for the primaries.”
Meanwhile, Adigbibe Maduakolam Kenneth, the only aspirant contesting against Chinedu in his constituency, has been cleared by the PDP and issued with authentic certificate of clearance.
Adighibe, who presented his certificate of clearance to journalists in Umuahia, said he is very much in the race against rumours being peddled by supporters of his opponent that he had withdrawn.
He told newsmen that he has nothing against Governor Orji and his son, but believes that people should be allowed to enjoy their rights in a state where they are not strangers.
He also stated that nothing will make him withdraw for anybody, including the son of the governor.
Meanwhile some residents of Umuahia have expressed reservations over the overruling of the appeal panel that disqualified Chinedu. According to them, why did PDP set up an appeal panel if it does not have power to act.
“It is amusing that the PDP says its appeal panel has no power to disqualify any candidate. If that’s the case, why did the party set up the panel in the first place? The PDP leadership shouldn’t have set up another panel if the decision of the first screening panel was sacrosanct. If the appeal panel disqualified Chinedu Orji, there is something that warranted this, which should be looked into,” says an Aba trader, who pleaded anonymity.