The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to declare Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s seat vacant, following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Rising from its meeting in Awka, capital of Anambra State, the National Working Committee (NWC) said in a communique that there was no justification for the defection because the national leadership was not assailed by crisis. Abaribe, who represents Abia South District in the Senate, defected to ADC last month. His attempt to claim that the defection was due to division in his party was rejected by the Senate President.
He also indicated that he was leaving the party because he had been expelled. Senate President Godswill Akpabio requested him to produce, at the next plenary, a letter of expulsion. But he has not done that.
Senate Spokesman Yemi Adaramodu, who noted the call to declare the seat vacant, said no action can be taken now because the Senate is on recess.
The APGA-NWC said in the unsigned communique that the Senate, under the leadership of Akpabio, has stood firm for democracy and constitutional order, adding that the unlawful defection should not be overlooked. The party commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assenting to the Electoral Act, 2026 Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly.
The communique reads: “The NWC calls on the Senate leadership to invoke relevant provisions of the Constitution and declare his seat vacant, in light of his betrayal of the mandate entrusted to him by the people of Abia South Senatorial District.
“The NWC further notes and commends the innovative introductions in the new Electoral Act, particularly on the mode of primary elections by political parties and the digitization of membership database of political parties.
“APGA firmly believes that such innovative provisions align with global best practices and further strengthens internal party democracy.