…Says indefinite suspension forced his exit
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A fresh political storm is brewing in Abia State as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) intensifies moves to unseat Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, over his defection from the party.
APGA leaders, who addressed a press conference in Umuahia, called on the Senate President to declare the senator’s seat vacant, insisting that Abaribe has no legal grounds to retain the mandate after leaving the party that sponsored his election.
The party maintained that there is no crisis within its ranks to justify the defection, stressing that the law requires any lawmaker who defects under such circumstances to vacate office.
The state APGA Chairman, Sunday Onukwubiri, flanked by the party’s 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Obinna Ichita, and Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, accused the senator of political betrayal and abandoning the platform that facilitated his return to the Senate.
They argued that Abaribe’s claim of being sacked is false, insisting he was only suspended for alleged anti-party activities before voluntarily exiting the party.
“The issue is simple. He left the party that gave him the mandate. The law is clear on what should follow,” the party said, urging the National Assembly leadership to act without delay.
APGA further disclosed that it has begun strategic political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, hinting at a possible alliance with another platform.
However, Abaribe dismissed the party’s position, describing his defection as a necessary step forced by his indefinite suspension.
According to him, remaining in a party that placed him on prolonged suspension without resolution was untenable.
“When a party places you on indefinite suspension for months, it means you are no longer part of its activities. You are effectively pushed out,” he said.
The senator also rejected claims that he was attempting to manipulate the process to justify his exit, describing such allegations as baseless.
Abaribe insisted that his mandate derives from the people of Abia South rather than the party structure, arguing that his popularity accounted for his electoral victory.
He further pointed to precedents where lawmakers defected without losing their seats, questioning why his case should be treated differently.
The development has set the stage for a possible constitutional test, with both sides digging in—APGA insisting on strict application of the law, while Abaribe frames his exit as a consequence of political exclusion.
