The Abia State branch of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has requested that Enyinnaya Abaribe and Alex Mascot Ikwechegh resign their seats in the National Assembly following their recent defections to other political parties.
APGA stated that both lawmakers were elected on its platform and should vacate their seats after defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP), respectively.
Barr Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, the APGA Publicity Secretary in Abia State, while addressing a press conference in Aba, stated that the exit of the two federal lawmakers did not surprise the party.
He believes their departure has freed the party from “political hostage and asphyxiation.”
“The actions of these men did not come to us as a surprise. Rather, it is a prayer well answered for the speedy recovery and liberation of APGA,” he said.
The party, however, requested that both members immediately leave their positions in the National Assembly because they were elected on the APGA platform.
Nwokoro stated that the mandates belong to the party and that the defectors’ resignation would be morally correct.
“The seats they are occupying at the National Assembly belong to APGA. It is only honorable that they vacate them immediately,” he said.
While conceding that political defections are part of Nigeria’s democratic tradition, the APGA insisted that the departure of the two MPs will have no effect on the party’s fortunes.
The party also accused Abaribe and Ikwechegh of making little contribution to the party’s growth in Abia State during their tenures as leaders.
According to the party, their acts constituted “sabotage” of the APGA’s progress in the state.
The APGA stated it had learned “bitter lessons” from the incident and resolved not to allow political opportunists to control the party in the future.
While conceding that political defections are part of Nigeria’s democratic tradition, the APGA insisted that the departure of the two MPs will have no effect on the party’s fortunes.
The party also accused Abaribe and Ikwechegh of making little contribution to the party’s growth in Abia State during their tenures as leaders.
According to the party, their acts constituted “sabotage” of the APGA’s progress in the state.
The APGA stated it had learned “bitter lessons” from the incident and resolved not to allow political opportunists to control the party in the future.
“APGA has come to stay in Abia State. No amount of political shenanigans will distract us as we march towards 2027,” he said.
