The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has challenged Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South, over his claim that he was expelled from the party, insisting instead that he remains suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
APGA leaders addressed a press conference in Umuahia, led by State Chairman Ambassador Sunday Onukwubiri, alongside the party’s 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Obinna Ichita, and Publicity Secretary Chukwuemeka Nwokoro. They called on Abaribe to provide proof of his alleged expulsion, maintaining that no such decision was taken by the party.
The party accused the senator of misleading the public and urged the Senate President to declare his seat vacant should he fail to resign voluntarily. According to the party, Abaribe betrayed the platform that brought him into office and should relinquish his mandate.
“This is not a witch-hunt. We are acting in good conscience. Senator Abaribe betrayed the party and should relinquish the mandate,” the party leaders said.
APGA further alleged that the senator has been lobbying party officials at ward level to obtain a sack letter to support his claims, describing the move as unethical. The party also dismissed suggestions of internal crisis, stating that all disputes within its ranks were resolved by the Supreme Court in early 2023.
Speaking at the briefing, Hon. Ichita argued that political mandates belong to both the party and the electorate, not the individual office holder. He accused Abaribe of attempting to assert undue authority.
“You cannot assume an imperial status because you occupy an office. This is a democracy, not a monarchy,” he said.
Ichita further claimed that Abaribe voluntarily resigned from APGA following his suspension after failing to respond to allegations of misconduct. He said the senator’s current position misrepresents the sequence of events.
APGA Publicity Secretary Nwokoro reinforced the party’s stance, stating that Abaribe has no legal basis to remain in the Senate after leaving the party.
“The law is clear. Having voluntarily left the party, he cannot continue to hold the mandate. He should vacate the office before he is disgraced,” he said.
Chairman Onukwubiri also criticised the senator, alleging neglect of the party structure in his ward and claiming there is no functional APGA presence despite his prominence.
However, Senator Abaribe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Power, rejected the claims, insisting that his suspension effectively removed him from the party and justified his political realignment.
“When you place someone on indefinite suspension for over six months, what does that mean? It simply means the person no longer belongs to the party,” he argued.
He dismissed allegations that he attempted to secure a sack letter as “scandalous and insulting,” adding: “My name is Enyinnaya Abaribe. There are certain things you should know I cannot do.”
Abaribe also denied claims that he forced his way into APGA, saying party leaders approached him in the first instance. He further downplayed the party’s influence on his electoral victory, attributing his success to personal popularity among voters.
Citing previous cases of political defections, including a court ruling involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Abaribe questioned why his case should be treated differently, arguing that lawmakers have defected in the past without losing their seats.
“Is it because I did not defect to the APC? Others have defected without consequences. Why is my case different?” he queried.
