Theodore Orji

Theodore Ahamefule Orji
8th Governor of Abia State
Incumbent
Assumed office May 29, 2007
Preceded by	Orji Uzor Kalu
Personal details
Born	1950 Abia State, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Theodore Ahamefule Orji was elected Governor of Abia State, Nigeria on May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, Orji, a career civil servant, served as the Chief of Staff to former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.^{[citation needed]} In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor.

Background

Theodore Ahamefule Orji was born in Amaokwe Ugba, Umuahia – Ibeku in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in 1950. He attended Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro, Holy Ghost College, Owerri and obtained a Bachelor of Art Degree in English from the University of Ibadan in 1977. He enlisted for the National Youths Corps Scheme on graduation and was deployed to Sokoto State as a teacher at Government Secondary School, Shinkafi, Isa Local Government Area.^{[citation needed]}

On completion of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme in 1978, Orji was employed as an Administrative Officer in the old Imo State civil service on 18th December, 1979. Subsequently, he served in various capacities in The Cabinet Office, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Agriculture and Imo State Government House.^{[citation needed]}

When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia where he served in Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture. On March 1st 1996, Orji was seconded to the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) now INEC, Abia State as Administrative Secretary and was later redeployed to Enugu State in 1997 where he supervised the elections that ushered in the democratic government in the state in 1999. Thereafter, he returned to Abia State as Principal Secretary, Government House, Umuahia and Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

In December 2006, Orji won the Gubernatorial Primaries of the Progressive Peoples Alliance to contest the 2007 governorship elections in Abia State. On April 14, 2007, he resoundingly defeated his closest rival by over 200,000 votes to emerge Governor of Abia State. He thus made history as being the first Governor in the History of Nigeria to win his election while in detention. He was sworn in on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 as the 3rd Executive Governor of Abia, Gods Own State.^{[citation needed]} In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor.

Personal

Chief T.A Orji has been recognized and conferred with many traditional titles, including Ochendo Ibeku, Utuagbaigwe of Ngwaland and Ohazurume of Abia South. He is married to Chief Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji and their marriage is blessed with five children.^{[citation needed]}