Oil Tycoon Chief Chris Odinaka Igwe has officially switched allegiance from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following an extensive meeting with Abia North Senatorial District lawmaker Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. The move comes as a significant blow to the PDP, particularly in Umunneochi Local Government Area and Abia State as a whole, as Chief Igwe is a well-regarded businessman and political figure.
His younger brother, Hon. Okey Igwe, who served as the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 Abia State gubernatorial election, was believed to have played a pivotal role in supporting Chief Igwe’s political endeavors. Sources close to the former Abia State Governor have confirmed Chief Igwe’s defection, emphasizing its strategic importance for the APC.
Chief Chris Odinaka Igwe, the Managing Director/CEO of Mainland Oil and Gas Company Limited and Chairman of Chrisnak Groups Limited, brings significant influence to the APC. This development aligns with earlier predictions that political realignments would occur post the Supreme Court verdict, indicating a growing disillusionment among Abia politicians with the PDP’s future prospects.
The shift in allegiance underscores concerns about the PDP’s internal dynamics, with some prominent members expressing dissatisfaction and foreseeing a potential collapse of the party’s structure in Old Bende. As key figures like Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji consider their political options, the fate of the PDP in Abia hangs in the balance, with the possibility of further defections shaping the political landscape before the next election.
