Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) has formally resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and defected to the Labour Party (LP) with immediate effect, dealing a catastrophic blow to the ADC’s already crumbling legislative structure.
The move, announced barely weeks after he joined the ADC from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), marks the second defection by the former Senate Minority Leader in a volatile political season.
Abaribe was among a high-profile group of lawmakers who dumped their original platforms for the ADC in an attempt to build a formidable opposition coalition. However, his stay was marred by intense controversy on the floor of the Senate.
Following his initial exit from APGA, rival lawmakers had petitioned the Senate leadership to declare his seat vacant. They argued that the defection was unconstitutional, maintaining there was no “factionalisation” or crisis within APGA to justify his movement under the Nigerian Constitution.
Abaribe’s swift exit from the ADC comes at a strategic moment. Over the weekend, the Labour Party released its official schedule of activities for primary elections, suggesting the Abia South representative is positioning himself for a fresh mandate under the “Obidient” banner.
His departure follows the massive exodus of other political heavyweights like Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who on Sunday abandoned the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). While his colleagues moved to the NDC, Abaribe’s choice of the Labour Party indicates a splintering of the former opposition coalition.
His defection to the Labour Party, the party currently governing Abia State may be regarded as a major boost for the party.
With Abaribe’s resignation, the ADC continues to bleed its most influential members. The party is currently battling a coordinated legal onslaught, including an application by the Attorney General of the Federation to have the party deregistered.
As of the time of this report, the Labour Party leadership has welcomed the Senator, while the ADC remains silent on the loss of another legislative heavyweight.