The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial Zone, Eyinnaya Abaribe, has formally resigned from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Abaribe announced his defection on Wednesday at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, during an event attended by the former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, who also officially joined the ADC.
The lawmaker had moved to APGA in 2023 after leaving his former party to contest and win the Abia South senatorial seat.
Confirming his exit from the party, Abaribe said, “Let me also announce that this morning I resigned from the All-Progressive Grand Alliance.”
He thereafter pledged full loyalty to the ADC, describing Obi as his political leader.
“So as of now, I am fully in ADC. Following my brother and our leader, Mr Peter Obi, I wish all of us well, and I know that we’re going to get there,” he stated.
Recalling a previous media interaction, the former Senate Minority Leader said he had always believed that meaningful change would only come through collective action.
“When I was given my last interview, and they were asking me, how do you think it will happen? I told them, Mboru. Every woman knows what Mboru means. Now it’s Mboru,” Abaribe said, drawing applause from the audience.
Abaribe further described the ADC as a vehicle for a broad-based political movement aimed at confronting Nigeria’s challenges and dislodging the ruling party.
“When the time comes, the whole of us are going into ADC, and we shall remove the cancer that has held Nigeria down since 2015,” he declared.
Taking a swipe at the All Progressives Congress, the senator added, “We will remove that party that promised change but brought death and destruction to Nigeria.”
9news Nigeria reported earlier that Obi called on Nigerians and opposition political groups to unite under a single national coalition to confront the country’s worsening socio-economic and political challenges.
According to Obi, his decision to align with the ADC was driven by national interest.
“This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. I now respectfully call on my political associates, the Obidient Movement and opposition leaders across the country to join this broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress,” he said.
He warned that silence at a critical moment could prove costly.
“History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril,” Obi added.
