At last, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State will declares for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), next Saturday, August 28, 2010 in Umuahia.

Government sources told Sunday Tribune that President Goodluck Jonathan would visit the Abia State capital to formally receive the governor into the PDP fold.

The planning committee, comprising members of the executive council in the state and special advisers, among notable politicians that cut across political parties, was said to have been formed.

Sunday Tribune also gathered that residents and supporters of Governor Orji, in and outside the state, are expectant and eager to witness what they have described as the biggest political event in the state.

It would be recalled that Governor Orji resigned from PPA which brought him into power in June 2007 and joined APGA, few days later in an event witnessed by the renowned Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu; his wife, Bianca and other APGA chieftains.

Not quite long after that event was held, news filtered in that Governor Orji had again rejoined the PDP.

Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders, including town unions, market unions, traditional rulers, party men and women in Umuahia recently, Governor Orji said that the state had been in opposition for too long and stressed the need to join the mainstream of the nation’s politics.

According to the governor, people and government of the state would benefit from the political development, in a renewed cordial relationship with the central government with accruable socio-economic development.

In a related development, the new Abia State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka, has assumed office.

Speaking at the formal handover ceremony of the former party executive led by Ndidi Okereke in Umuahia, Senator Nwaka warned all political aspirants in the state who surround themselves with thugs that such would not be tolerated.

Also speaking, the new deputy governor of Abia State, Acho Nwakanma, said the enormous human resources that abound in the state have been working at cross purposes before now, adding that the intellect of these great men will be harnessed to make the state great with the new order.

Meanwhile, Governor Orji visited ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta residence on Saturday morning to inform him of, and invite him to, his declaration for PDP.

Obasanjo commended the leadership quality of Orji, saying the decision to join the mainstream of Nigerian politics was best for the socio-economic development of Abia State.

He commended him for consulting people first.

He added, “it is better to be an ordinary man in heaven than a god in hell.”

President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP state governors, the party’s national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the party, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and other major stakeholders in the party are billed to attend the ceremony.

It would be recalled that the governor had been in serious consultations since the PDP started wooing him to join the party.