The former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking the end of his decades-long affiliation with the party.
The resignation, announced in a letter dated August 7, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ndi Elu Ward, Nkporo, Ohafia Local Government Area, comes days after Chukwu’s visit to the current Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, sparking widespread speculation about a potential political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
In his resignation letter, Chukwu cited “personal reasons” for his decision to leave the PDP, describing it as a difficult but necessary step.
“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,” he wrote, expressing gratitude to the party while wishing it well in future endeavors.
The letter, received and signed by Ama Nwoke Ibe on behalf of the PDP ward, did not disclose Chukwu’s next political move, but his recent actions have fueled rumors of a possible defection to the Labour Party (LP), where Governor Otti is a prominent figure.
Chukwu’s visit to Otti at the Government House in Umuahia, where he publicly commended the governor for his “exemplary leadership and transformative development,” appears to have been a tipping point. During the visit, Chukwu went as far as endorsing Otti’s re-election bid for 2027, a move that reportedly angered PDP members in Abia State.
According to sources, Chukwu’s praise for Otti led to his removal from several PDP stakeholders’ groups, as party faithful viewed his actions as disloyalty.
Some PDP members noted his absence from key party events in Abia North and Ohafia, interpreting it as a sign of his waning commitment to the party.
The resignation follows a wave of defections from the PDP in Abia State, including that of Onyebuchi Ememanka, former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who also recently left the PDP and openly declared support for Otti and the Labour Party.
Ememanka cited the PDP’s failure to strategize after its 2023 election loss as a reason for his exit, a sentiment that may resonate with Chukwu’s decision.
Other notable defectors include Ikpeazu’s former Chief of Staff, Anthony Agbazuere, and several former commissioners, signaling a significant erosion of Ikpeazu’s political influence in the state.
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido recently called for the expulsion of prominent PDP figures, including Ikpeazu, for allegedly undermining the party during the elections, further highlighting the party’s internal crises.
Meanwhile, Ikpeazu himself has denied rumors of his own defection, reaffirming his commitment to rebuilding the PDP.
Chukwu, a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and a 2023 PDP governorship aspirant who lost the ticket to Chief Okey Ahaiwe, has not confirmed whether he will join the Labour Party or another political platform.
However, sources indicate that his unsuccessful talks with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have pushed him closer to Otti’s camp.
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