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By Myke Agunwa
Former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Hon. Ude Chukwu, has formally resigned membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a resignation letter dated August 5, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of Ndi Elu Ward, Nkporo, Ohafia LGA, the immediate past Deputy Governor stated that his decision to quit the party was due to personal reasons. He noted that although the decision was difficult, it was the best course of action for him under the present political outlook.
Chukwu, who served as Abia Deputy governor from May 2015 to 2023, expressed appreciation to the PDP for its support over the years and wished the party well in its future endeavours.
“I am most grateful for the opportunities the Party availed me to serve at various levels and appreciate the experience and knowledge gained during my membership of the Party,” the letter read in part.
His resignation letter was acknowledged and received by the ward leadership on August 7, 2025.
The development marks a significant shift in Abia State’s political landscape, as Oko Chukwu was a prominent figure in the PDP for many years, holding various positions before his tenure as deputy governor.
Though he did not indicate his next political move, there are indications that he intends to join hands with the Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti elected on the platform of Labour party (LP).
Recently, Chukwu who was former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, visited Otti at the governor’s country home in Nvosi.
Speaking with journalists after the visit he said that Gov Otti has by his achievements, earned himself a second term in office.
“You see, let me tell you, I’ve gone around Abia State, especially those of us who come from Abia North. You just discovered that the kind of road infrastructure that we have there, is unprecedented.”
The PDP has been decimated by mass exodus of founding members lately leading to concerns that the country may be drifting to a one party state.
The gale of defection may not come to an end soon as more political stalwarts are defecting in their numbers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
However the emergence of the coalition anchored by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may halt or even reverse the tide if it is able to surmount the initial challenges cause by the take over of the party by the David Mark led National Working Committee (NWC).
Recall that several bigwigs in the ruling party including its former National Chairman, John Oyegun, former Vice Chairman North West, Salihu Lukman, former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, former governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Aishatu Ahmed and a host of others have joined the coalition party to wrestle power from President Bola Tinubu in 2027.