The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to clarify his alleged romance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The party’s caucus, after its meeting in Umuahia on Tuesday night, alleged that Abaribe had been promoting ADC at his event centre in Aba during meetings held on August 18 and September 23.
Signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, the statement cited claims by the Abia ADC secretary on a radio programme that Abaribe is a card-carrying member and leader of ADC in the State.
APGA accused the former Senate Minority Leader of neglecting the party after winning his current Senate mandate on its platform.
The party urged the lawmaker representing Abia South to publicly declare his political stance, stressing that no individual can belong to two political parties at the same time.
Noting that Abaribe’s actions amount to a gross violation of its constitution, the party warned that it would be compelled to apply disciplinary measures if he fails to issue a public denial of his alleged defection.
But reacting swiftly, Abaribe’s media aide, Uchenna Awom, dismissed the allegation.
Emphasising that Senator remains accessible to the party as its leader in Abia, Awom described the claims as “rumours”.
When asked directly if the senator had defected to ADC, Awom replied, “As an experienced politician, he knows how to go about it. Has he communicated to them that he has left APGA?”