The Senate on Thursday warned that the seat of the senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe, could be declared vacant if he fails to reconsider his resignation from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Abaribe, known as one of the outspoken opposition voices in the chamber, formally announced his resignation from APGA in a letter read during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
In the letter, the senator stated that he had decided to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing an irreconcilable leadership crisis in his former party. The ADC has been adopted by some opposition leaders across the country as a platform for contesting the 2027 elections.
However, several lawmakers raised concerns about the move and the justification given by Abaribe.
Among them were the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who questioned whether the reason advanced by the Abia lawmaker met constitutional requirements.
Jibrin argued that there is 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 interprete the rules and take a final decision on issues in the chamber.
Jibrin therefore urged the senate president to rule on the matter in line with the constitutional provisions.
Also speaking, the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, said party leaders should resolve internal disputes rather than abandon the party during crises.
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.
Bamidele urged the senate president to allow Mr Abaribe withdraw his resignation letter so that the Senate leadership could deliberate on the matter. Otherwise, he said, the chamber should act on the letter in accordance with the Constitution.
Responding to the concerns raised on the floor, Mr Abaribe explained that his resignation followed his expulsion from APGA in September 2025.
He urged the Senate leadership to accept his resignation, insisting that he was no longer a member of the party.
After the exchange, Mr Akpabio directed the senator to submit a copy of the expulsion letter from APGA within one week for consideration.
However, Messrs Jibrin and Bamidele maintained that the senate president should immediately rule in line with the constitutional provisions by declaring the seat vacant.
In his ruling, Mr Akpabio said 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.
It remains unclear whether Mr Abaribe had already registered as a member of the ADC before submitting the resignation letter.
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