The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State has urged the Senate to declare the seat of Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, vacant after he resigned from the party.
At a press briefing in Umuahia, APGA leadership, led by former Abia State House of Assembly member Obinna Ichita, insisted that Abaribe voluntarily left the party rather than being expelled, contrary to his claims at the Senate. They argued that his resignation from the party that sponsored his election breaches constitutional provisions, as there was no internal leadership crisis to justify his defection.
“The senator resigned voluntarily in his ward. While that is his right, leaving the party that gave him the platform for another party without a crisis means the seat must be declared vacant,” Ichita said. He added that APGA has documentary evidence showing Abaribe was not sacked, but resigned three months after disciplinary measures were taken.
APGA officials, including State Chairman Sunday Onukwubiri and Public Relations Officer Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, stressed that Abaribe had disengaged from party activities and neither held dual membership nor was expelled. They explained that following his failure to respond to party invitations, he was suspended and later resigned voluntarily.
Senator Abaribe defended his actions, asserting that his indefinite suspension by APGA amounted to expulsion, granting him the constitutional right to join another party. He noted that any removal from office should occur through a recall process initiated by his constituents.
“The proper constitutional procedure for removing me is a recall by the people who elected me,” Abaribe said, emphasizing his belief that he acted within his legal rights.
