Senators on Thursday faulted a move by Enyinnaya Abaribe, the lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial district, to defect to the Action Democratic Congress (ADC).
During plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from Mr Abaribe announcing his resignation from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to join the ADC.
In the letter, Mr Abaribe cited “irreconcilable leadership crisis within the party” as his basis for resigning from APGA.
However, some senators, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and the Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele, raised objections to Mr Abaribe’s planned defection, particularly the reason given by the senator.
Mr Jibrin argued that there was no division within APGA’s leadership structure. He noted that Section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that a member of the National Assembly who defects from the political party that sponsored his election must vacate his seat unless there is a division within the party.
He also referenced Order 20(j) of the Senate Standing Orders, which gives the Senate president the authority to interpret the rules and take a final decision on issues in the chamber.
The deputy Senate president further urged Mr Akpabio to rule on the matter in line with the constitutional provisions.
Mr Bamidele also argued that Mr Abaribe may have violated Section 65 of the Constitution, which requires a member of the National Assembly to belong to a political party as a condition for holding office.
Mr Bamidele urged the Senate president to allow Mr Abaribe to withdraw his resignation letter so that the upper chamber’s leadership could deliberate on the matter. Otherwise, he said, the chamber should act on the letter in accordance with the constitution.
The Senators noted that Mr Abaribe could lose his seat if he does not reconsider his resignation from APGA.
Meanwhile, Adams Oshiomole, the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, said party leaders should resolve internal disputes rather than abandon the party during crises.
Reacting to the objections, Mr Abaribe said he had already been expelled from APGA in September 2025. He urged the Senate leadership to accept his resignation, insisting that he was no longer a member of APGA.
However, Mr Akpabio directed Mr Abaribe to submit a copy of the expulsion letter from APGA within a week, for consideration.
Messrs Jibrin and Bamidele urged the Senate president to rule in line with the constitutional provisions by declaring Mr Abaribe’s seat vacant.
Mr Akpabio, however, noted that the Senate would give Mr Abaribe time to reconsider withdrawing his letter before taking a constitutional position.
“We’ll give you until our next sitting to reconsider, or the chamber will take a position,” Mr Akpabio said.
