The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has given Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South in the National Assembly, a 24-hour ultimatum to clear the air over his alleged links with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or face disciplinary action.
The warning followed a caucus meeting of APGA in Umuahia on Tuesday night, where party leaders expressed concern over what they described as Abaribe’s “growing association” with the ADC, a development they said was creating confusion and distrust within the party.
In a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, APGA accused the senator of abandoning the party after using its platform to secure a fifth term in the Senate, and warned that no one would be allowed to belong to two political parties at the same time.
The party said it was disappointed by what it termed as Abaribe’s disregard for APGA’s leadership and values, adding that the senator had recently hosted meetings at his event centre in Aba on August 18 and September 23, where the ADC was allegedly promoted instead of APGA.
“Nobody can belong to two political parties at the same time. Senator Abaribe must come out clearly to declare his stand within 24 hours or face the appropriate sanctions,” the statement read.
The party challenged the senator to personally confirm or deny the growing speculation that he had secretly defected to the ADC in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Reacting swiftly, Abaribe’s media aide, Mr. Uchenna Awom, dismissed the allegations as baseless and accused the party of acting on rumours rather than facts.
Awom noted that as the APGA leader in Abia State, Senator Abaribe remains accessible to the party and its leadership, and should not have been publicly accused without prior consultation or confirmation.
“Senator Abaribe is alive and well. As APGA leader in the state, the party has all the channels to reach him. They don’t need to rely on subterfuge or make public accusations based on rumours,” Awom said.
He further stated that if the party had any genuine concerns, it should have written formally to the senator or invited him for clarification, rather than issuing an ultimatum through the media.
When asked directly if Abaribe had defected to the ADC, Awom was evasive but hinted that the senator was aware of the political terrain.
“As an experienced politician, he knows how to go about such matters. Has he officially communicated to APGA that he has left? They can’t just arm-twist him into speaking on rumours,” he said.
Senator Abaribe, a prominent political figure in Abia State and former Senate Minority Leader, joined APGA in 2022 after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His move was seen as a major boost for APGA in the Southeast.
However, recent political activities and perceived alignment with members of the ADC have triggered speculations that the senator may be planning another defection ahead of the 2027 elections.
The situation has raised tensions within APGA in Abia State, especially among members who feel betrayed after working for Abaribe’s electoral success under the party’s platform in 2023.
As 2027 draws nearer, the political atmosphere in Abia is expected to heat up, with parties already jostling for relevance and strong candidates to secure electoral victories.
APGA’s demand signals the beginning of what could become a tense standoff between the party and one of its most influential members.
