Atiku’s aide knocks Senate over Abaribe’s defection saga

By John Ogunsemore

Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has slammed the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led Senate over its handling of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s recent defection.

Abaribe, from Abia South, was one of eight senators that defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at plenary on Thursday.

However, the Senate said it would review the legality of his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over alleged constitutional breach.

Raising the issue, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin cited Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires a lawmaker who defects from the party that sponsored their election to vacate their seat unless the move is caused by a division or merger within the party.

Barau said there is no evidence of a crisis within APGA to justify Abaribe’s defection.

Reacting, Atiku’s aide noted that Abaribe was indefinitely suspended from APGA by the Abia State chapter on September 26, 2025, for alleged anti-party activities, a fact he said the Senate ought to know.

Ibe said, “All of a sudden Tinubu’s lapdog Senate is invoking sections of the Nigerian Constitution in querying Sen. Abaribe’s defection to the ADC.

“Where was the Sen. Akpabio-led Senate when the ruling party was coercing opposition lawmakers into the APC.

“It is a shame that they don’t know or pretend not to know that Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe was indefinitely suspended from APGA by the Abia State chapter on September 26, 2025, for alleged anti-party activities.

“He was no longer a member of APGA having been suspended as at the time he identified with ADC.

“So, Akpabio and his lackeys should save their energies for making laws for the good of Nigerians and not just serving as Tinubu’s yes-men/yes-women.”