By AbdulGaneey Balogun
There was uproar in the Senate on Thursday after lawmakers rejected the defection of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing a constitutional breach.
Abaribe was among nine senators whose letters of defection were read during plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Other lawmakers who defected to the ADC include Senators Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South), Binos Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North), Lawal Adamu (PDP, Kaduna Central), Ogoshi Onawu (PDP, Nasarawa South), Austin Akonbudu (PDP, Abia Central) and Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT).
While the defecting senators cited internal crises and divisions within their parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP)—to justify their decisions, Abaribe did not present a similar justification regarding APGA.
This prompted Akpabio and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North), to raise concerns over a possible constitutional violation, noting that there was no known crisis within APGA that could justify Abaribe’s defection.
Barau, citing Order 20 of the Senate Standing Rules, argued that Abaribe should withdraw his defection letter or risk losing his seat.
“Mr President, having carefully reviewed the letters of defection forwarded to you, I observed that APGA—the party from which Senator Abaribe defected—is not facing any crisis or division, particularly at the national level,” Barau said.
He further referenced Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that a member of the National Assembly must vacate their seat if they defect from the party that sponsored them without a division in that party.
Responding to the concerns, Abaribe admitted that APGA was not experiencing any internal crisis but claimed the party had expelled him in September 2025.
“Mr Senate President and distinguished colleagues, I have a letter and evidence of my sack by APGA,” he said, adding that since lawmakers must belong to a political party to remain in the Senate, he decided to join the ADC.
However, the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), argued that Abaribe’s alleged expulsion could itself constitute grounds for declaring his seat vacant under Section 68(1)(b) of the Constitution.
Also contributing, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) insisted that APGA had no internal crisis and noted that the Labour Party’s disputes had largely been resolved. He urged the Senate to address the matter strictly in accordance with the Constitution.
Following the debate, Senate President Akpabio ruled that Abaribe had one week to either withdraw his defection letter or provide convincing constitutional justification for his action.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.