By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate on Thursday issued a stern one-week ultimatum to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) to prove his claim that he was expelled from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) before defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that failure to do so could cost him his seat.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio handed down the directive during a tense plenary session after lawmakers raised constitutional concerns over the legality of Abaribe’s defection.
Akpabio ruled that the Abia South senator must provide documentary evidence within seven days to support his claim that APGA expelled him in September 2025.
“If such evidence is not provided, the Senate will take further action in line with the Constitution,” Akpabio declared.
The warning followed a heated debate triggered by a wave of defections in the chamber, with nine senators abandoning their former parties to join the ADC. This move has dramatically altered the opposition configuration in the Senate.
However, Abaribe’s defection quickly became the most contentious issue as lawmakers cited Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires a legislator to vacate his seat if he defects from the party that sponsored his election, except in the event of a division within that party.
The drama unfolded shortly after Akpabio read letters from senators announcing their defection to the ADC.
Those who moved to the ADC include Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), a former Speaker of the House of Representatives; Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central); Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North); Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central); Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South); Senator Augustine Akobundu (Abia Central); Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT); and Senator Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South).
Also read on the floor was the defection letter of Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a party he founded.
Most of the defecting lawmakers cited internal crises, leadership disputes and prolonged litigations within their former parties as reasons for leaving.
Tambuwal, in his resignation letter from the PDP, lamented what he described as persistent divisions within the party.
“The persistent internal crisis, leadership disagreements, litigations and divisions within the party at various levels have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my active participation and commitment as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.
Similarly, Senator Ireti Kingibe attributed her exit from the Labour Party to what she described as a prolonged leadership crisis within the party.
But Abaribe’s case immediately drew scrutiny because his defection letter did not cite any crisis within APGA.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (Kano North), after examining the defection letters, objected, stating that there was no evidence of any division within APGA that could justify the move.
“Having examined the letters of defection, it is clear that APGA, the party from which Senator Abaribe defected, is not engulfed in any crisis or division at the national level,” Barau said.
“Abaribe’s defection, as stated in Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, appears to be against the provisions of the law and warrants appropriate action regarding the Abia South senatorial seat.”
The intervention sparked murmurs across the chamber and briefly slowed proceedings as senators debated the constitutional implications.
*Embattled Senator insists APGA expelled him, vows to present evidence
Responding to the concerns, Abaribe defended his action, insisting that he did not voluntarily defect but was expelled from APGA months earlier.
“I am not a lawyer. This section of the Constitution does not address a situation where a person is sacked from his party,” he said.
“I was sacked from APGA in September 2025, and I have the letter here.”
However, Akpabio noted that the Senate had not received any official communication confirming the alleged expulsion.
“You have confirmed that you are not leaving because of division but because you claim you were sacked,” the Senate President said.
“The Senate is not aware of that, and we do not have any documentary evidence before us.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) added that even if Abaribe was expelled from his party, the situation could still raise constitutional questions about his continued membership of the Senate.
He explained that while Section 65 of the Constitution outlines the qualifications for election to the National Assembly, Section 68 clearly stipulates the circumstances under which a legislator must vacate his seat.
Following consultations with Senate leaders, Akpabio directed Abaribe to submit documentary proof of his expulsion within one week, after which the Senate would determine the constitutional implications of his defection.
*Nine senators dump parties as ADC overtakes PDP to become the main opposition in Senate
Meanwhile, the mass defections have significantly reshaped the opposition landscape in the Senate.
With nine senators now in its fold, the ADC has overtaken the PDP, which currently has seven senators, to emerge as the main opposition party in the chamber.
Despite the realignment within the minority bloc, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) still holds overwhelming dominance, with 87 of the 109 Senate seats.
Three senatorial seats — Nasarawa North, Enugu North and Rivers South East — remain vacant following the deaths of the lawmakers who previously occupied them.
