•Senator Abaribe
The Senate has stopped Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe from defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Senator Abaribe was voted into power on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), reports Daily Independent.
The lawmaker had attempted to join seven other senators who defected to other political parties, citing internal crisis as responsible for their defection.
Abaribe’s announcement, however, met resistance from the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who highlighted that no crisis in APGA warranted the defection of Senator Abaribe.
Barau cited a constitutional provision, insisting that Abaribe should consider withdrawing the letter of defection and go back to his APGA or risk vacating his seat, as it was the party that sponsored him to the Senate during the election.
Citing section 68 (1) “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member of [a] he becomes a member of another legislative house.
[b] Any other circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, would cause him to be disqualified for election as a member.
Reacting, Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District, disclosed that he had been sacked from the party on September 25, 2025, insisting that being sacked was responsible for his moving to the opposition African Democratic Party, ADC.
“Mr Senate President, Distinguished Colleagues, I have the letter and the evidence of my sack by APGA.”
Abaribe’s disclosure generated a stormy session between principal officers of the Senate who insisted on the constitutional provision and other Lawmakers who showed solidarity for him.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, pointed out that APGA has no crisis, and the Labour Party’s crisis has been resolved. Abaribe’s defection was a breach of the Constitution, urging the Senate to deal with the situation with all sincerity.
Reacting, Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, commended Senator Abaribe for being sincere with the “sack narrative” and called on the Senate Leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, to speak his position on the issue.
Akpabio said, “Thank you for being honest. You have confirmed and affirmed that you are not leaving APGA because of a crisis, but that you were sacked.”
In his contribution, the Senate Leader, Bamidele Opeyemi, drew the attention of Senators to Section 66 of the Constitution, which deals with “election to the Senate and the House of Representatives”, stressing that the issue of sack from a political party is anticipated in the Constitution.
Opeyemi said, “Section 68(1b)” if applicable should have made Senator Abaribe vacate his seat if he defects.
Asking, “Could Senator Abaribe have been elected to the Senate if he had not been sponsored by a political party?”
He submitted on the point of law that Abaribe should be allowed to withdraw the letter of defection to ADC, adding that the acclaimed sack made him ineligible to contest the election in the first place.
Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio pointed out the provision of the Constitution that empowered him to decide, but upheld the submission of the Senate Leader and advised that Abaribe should reconsider withdrawing the letter.
