Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the minority leader of the senate has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and quit his role as minority leader. A
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the minority leader of the senate has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and quit his role as minority leader.
Abaribe, who was one of the top contenders for the party’s governorship ticket in Abia State, had pulled out of the primary election.
The PDP governorship primary election was eventually won by Eleazar Ikonne.
Abaribe becomes the second high profile politician from the Southeast to leave the main opposition party after former Anambra State governor and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi resigned on Wednesday.
He confirmed his exit from the PDP and as a minority leader in both the party and the senate in separate letters to the ward chairman of the PDP in the Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the President of the Senate in the National Assembly.
Abaribe cited reasons of illegality, impunity and hesitations in decision-making for his decision to dump the party.
According to him, his next move would be communicated at the appropriate time.
The letter addressed to the party’s ward Chairman, titled “Resignation of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,” read in part, “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.”
On his resignation as a member of the party in the upper chamber of the national assembly and the minority leader in the senate addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Lawan Ahmed, he titled the letter, “Notification of Resignation from the Membership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Senate.”
It 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.”
Abaribe is seeking to return to the senate on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia governor, will lock horns with Abaribe for the seat currently occupied by the senator. Ikpeazu had earlier clinched the PDP ticket for the Abia south senatorial district election.
