The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has given Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, 24 hours to clarify his alleged ties with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or face disciplinary action.
The party, in a statement issued after its caucus meeting in Umuahia, insisted that no member could simultaneously belong to two political parties. It urged the former Senate Minority Leader to publicly declare his political allegiance.
APGA accused Abaribe of neglecting the party and disrespecting its leadership after using its platform to secure a fifth term in the Senate. The party claimed he had instead promoted ADC at recent political gatherings.
According to APGA’s Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, Abaribe allegedly hosted meetings on August 18 and September 23 at his event centre in Aba where he was said to have advanced ADC’s interests. The party challenged him to confirm or deny the reported defection.
In response, Abaribe’s media aide, Uchenna Awom, dismissed the allegations, describing them as unfounded and based on speculation. He said the party could easily reach the senator directly instead of issuing public ultimatums.
Asked if the senator had formally defected to ADC, Awom declined to give a direct answer but noted that Abaribe, as an experienced politician, knows how to handle such decisions properly.
“Has he communicated to them that he has left APGA? They don’t just sit down and do arm-twisting to get words out from his mouth,” he added.
The development has further deepened speculation about Abaribe’s political future ahead of upcoming electoral contests in Abia State.