Intrigues as Senators fault Abaribe’s move to dump APGA for ADC

By Naomi Sharang

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe’s announcement of his defection from All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA to the African Democratic Congress, ADC was characterized by intrigue and stiff opposition s at the Senate on Thursday as his colleagues pick holes in the reason he gave for abandoning the party on which platform he was elected to office.

Abaribe had in his letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio claimed he wanted to dump APGA because of the crisis in the party.

However, some lawmakers faulted the claim as they argued that there was no crisis in APGA, as claimed by the Abia senator.

For one, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, said: “The Constitution provides that a legislator may change political parties only under specific circumstances such as when there is a division within the party they were elected under or when there is a merger of parties or factions, one of which originally sponsored the member.

“Mr President, you asked me to carefully study the letters and the reasons given by those who have defected. I did so.

“Those moving from the PDP may have reasons because we know there are two factions within the PDP—the Wike faction and the Makinde faction.

“However, my attention was drawn to the cases involving the APGA and the Labour Party. After studying the situation, I discovered that there is no division in APGA and no division in the Labour Party,” Barau said.

Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, also suggested that Abaribe’s letter should be referred to the Legal Department of the National Assembly and external solicitors for advice.

“It will not be for us to go to court. Rather, it will be for us to invoke the relevant provisions of the constitution.

“Under your watch (Akpabio), you have to take your position. If anyone decides to go to court, we will not be the complainant. It would be Sen. Abaribe who would go to court,” he said.

Responding, Abaribe said: “I haven’t been sacked from my party since September 2025. And I have the letter here. I can read the letter.

“What it says very clearly, that provided there is a division, but there is nothing that says if you have been sacked.”.

In his ruling, the senate president gave Abaribe till the next sitting to reconsider his move and take a definite decision.

“I want to protect you. You have spoken twice already.

“The third time, you may end up saying something you do not intend to say.

From what I can see now, Sen. Umeh does not appear to be helping you.

“He has tried everything to provoke this chamber, yet we have refused to be provoked out of the respect we have for you.

“Therefore, we will give you until our next sitting to reconsider and take a decision. Let us know your position then,” Akpabio said.

However, eight other senators defected from their respective former political parties without controversies.

The Senators Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa), Victor Umeh (Anambra), Tony Nwonye (Anambra), Lawal Usman (Kaduna), Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa) Augustine Akobundu (Abia) and Ireti Kingibe (FCT) had earlier in the day move to African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Sen. Seriake Dickson representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, however, defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The letters of defection written by the defectors and addressed to Akpabio, were read during plenary.

Tambuwal, in his letter, attributed his defection to what he called the persistent internal crisis, leadership disagreements, litigations and divisions within PDP at various levels.

These, he said, had made it increasingly difficult for him to continue his active participation and commitment as a PDP member.

“The ongoing conflicts have unfortunately weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party.

“Please accept this letter as a formal notice of my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” he said.

For Abaribe, his decision to join ADC is in line with his collective resolve to rescue and deepen the democratic system in the country.

Yaroe, in his own letter, said his decision to align with ADC was informed by his resolve to join hands with other ‘patriotic Nigerians to assure the nation and the international community that Nigeria is still a multi-party democracy and that the country has not been—and cannot be—turned into a one-party system’.

With the latest configuration of senators in the senate across party line is APC, 87; ADC, nine; PDP, seven; APGA, one; NDC), one; NNPP, one; SDP, none; LP, none, making it a total of 106 senators with three seats vacant due to the demise of their former occupants.

(NAN)