Senate Warns Abaribe Could Lose Seat Over Defection From APGA To ADC
Drama unfolded in the Senate on Thursday after lawmakers warned that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe risks losing his seat if he proceeds with his decision to leave the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The senator representing Abia South announced his resignation from APGA in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, Abaribe explained that he decided to leave the party due to what he described as an irreconcilable leadership crisis within APGA. He also revealed that he had moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a platform some opposition leaders are adopting ahead of the 2027 general elections. His announcement sparked immediate reactions from several senators, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who questioned the justification for his defection. Jibrin argued that APGA is not experiencing any leadership division that would warrant a lawmaker abandoning the party. He cited Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, which states that any member of the National Assembly who defects from the political party that sponsored his election must vacate the seat unless the party is facing a clear internal split. He also referenced Order 20(j) of the Senate Standing Orders, which gives the Senate President authority to interpret the chamber’s rules and make a final decision on such issues. Jibrin therefore urged Akpabio to apply the constitutional provisions in handling the matter. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, also advised that political leaders should address internal disagreements within their parties instead of abandoning them during difficult moments. Bamidele supported the argument, adding that Abaribe’s action could also raise questions under Section 65 of the Constitution, which requires a member of the National Assembly to belong to a political party in order to remain in office. He suggested that Abaribe should be allowed to withdraw his resignation letter so the Senate leadership can properly examine the situation. Otherwise, he said the chamber should proceed in line with the Constitution. Responding to the objections, Abaribe insisted that his resignation should be accepted, explaining that he had already been expelled from APGA in September 2025. He told the Senate that he was no longer a member of the party and therefore had no reason to remain in it. Following the exchange, Akpabio directed Abaribe to submit proof of his expulsion from APGA within one week. However, both Jibrin and Bamidele maintained that the Senate President should immediately rule in accordance with the Constitution by declaring the seat vacant. In his ruling, Akpabio said the Senate would allow Abaribe time to reconsider his decision before taking any constitutional step. “We’ll give you until our next sitting to reconsider or the chamber will take a position,” Akpabio said. It remains uncertain whether Abaribe had formally registered as a member of the ADC before submitting his resignation letter. Abaribe, first elected to the Senate in 2007, has been re-elected several times and remains one of the longest-serving lawmakers and prominent opposition voices in the chamber.
