Abaribe Resigns As Senate Minority Leader, Quits PDP

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial district in the National Assembly and Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has resigned his position as Minority Leader of the Red Chamber.

The ranking Senator has also resigned his membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a letter addressed to President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, titled ‘Notification of Resignation from the Membership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Senate’, Senator Abaribe disclosed that he has ceased to be Senate Minority Leader, consequent upon his resignation from the PDP.

The letter read in part: “This is to notify you and my dear colleagues in the Senate that I have formally resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party through my ward. This also means my resignation as (the) Minority Leader of the Senate.”

“I wish to thank you and my dear colleagues in the leadership of the Senate for the warm camaraderie we enjoyed while I was Minority Leader.”

In another letter addressed to his Ward Chairman and  Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in his  Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State entitled, ‘Resignation of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’,  the former Minority Leader said he took the decision to quit the PDP after due consultations.

The letter reads:” I write to inform you of my decision to resign as a member of (the) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“This development is consequent upon the shameful display of illegality, impunity and undemocratic decision of the party and after due consultations with my constituents.”

Abaribe had during the week failed to participate in the PDP governorship primary in Abia State saying he could no longer stomach what he called impunity and illegality in the Abia State chapter of the main opposition party.

There are indications that the erstwhile Senate Minority Leader may pitch his tent with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) where he will battle for the Abia South Senatorial ticket with incumbent Abia State Governor and PDP senatorial candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

After dumping the PDP, Abaribe yesterday signalled his intention to do battle with Governor Ikpeazu over the Abia South senatorial seat.

Abaribe, who has been in the Senate for 12 years now, confirmed to journalists when contacted on phone that he would still pursue his ambition to retain his seat in the Senate.

He said that he would contest for the senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Abia South Senatorial District, meaning that he would contend with Ikpeazu at the poll next year. The governor has already picked the Abia South senatorial ticket of the PDP without any challenge.

The fiery Senator fell out with the Abia PDP and Ikpeazu when he faced hurdles and failed to actualise his dream of picking the governorship ticket of the ruling PDP.

When he withdrew from the 2023 gubernatorial race, he had cited “lack of transparency and the use of only an imaginary three-man ad hoc delegates to the exclusion of the party’s statutory delegates in the primary elections.”

But this time around, he said that he decided to walk away from PDP and also quit his top position in Senate because of “the shameful display of illegality, impunity and undemocratic decision of the party and after due consultations with my constituents.” 

The Abia PDP is already experiencing big cracks as the controversial delegates list has created dissatisfaction and bad blood.

Before the May 25, 2022 governorship primary, most PDP governorship aspirants, including Abaribe had withdrawn from the race over the issue of delegates and some have left for other parties to actualise their dreams.