May 27, (THEWILL) – Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The senator, who recently withdrew from the PDP governorship primaries in Abia State, also resigned his position as Minority leader of the Red Chambers.
This was confirmed in two separate letters addressed 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, Ahmed Lawan.
He cited ‘illegality, impunity and hesitations in decision-making’ as reasons for exiting the PDP.
Abaribe’s 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.”
His letter to the Senate, titled “Notification of Resignation from the Membership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Senate,” 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, who was one of the top contenders for the party’s governorship ticket in Abia State, pulled out of the primary on Tuesday.
Stating his reasons, he said: “The last couple of weeks has been tortuous as we battled hard to navigate our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) away from a self-destructive path.
“The essence was to create an unfettered democratic space and a level playing field for all aspirants vying for all elective offices in the state, to participate equally in the primary elections.
“That was not the case and of course, what we are witnessing is a shambolic process driven by a procured court injunction.
“To make matters worse, the use of only an imaginary 3-man Adhoc delegates to the exclusion of the party’s statutory delegates in the primary elections to elect our candidates even when INEC the nation’s electoral umpire, has unequivocally stated that no congress held in Abia State for that purpose, has no doubt put the party and her candidates in a quagmire.
“The implication for our party is grave and as such has put all ongoing primary exercises on quicksand.
“I am known for standing firm in defence of my convictions for the right of all people to a free and fair democratic process. That was why my campaign set sail on a democratic journey that took us to all the nooks and crannies of our dear state. We covered all the local governments and we could see the enthusiasm on the faces of our people who are desirous of change to a progressive government with a human face.
“We committed human and material resources, preaching the “Rise Up Abia” message for the total emancipation of our State from the drudgery of imposition and godfatherism, which has seen the state at the lowest wrung of infrastructural, human and material development index among the states of the federation.
“Our people were and are indeed fired up for a new lease of life that will be brought about by a people’s government.
“There was no doubt that Abians are tired of being subjected to being the butt of jokes and ridicule from their peers, particularly those from the contiguous states that were hitherto far behind Abia State in the development index at the time past.
“That was the narrative we sought to change when the campaign took off. Unfortunately, the ugly developments ignited by a rapacious ambition to maintain the wicked governance status quo of imposition and godfatherism have aborted this quest in PDP.
“Accordingly, I Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe will not be part of this charade.
“I am therefore not participating in the exercise, which means that I will not be part of the PDP governorship primary election that holds in Abia State on Wednesday, 25th of May, 2022, as doing so would have amounted to an endorsement of illegality that is already being challenged in the courts.
I, therefore, ask all our people, our teeming supporters, and Ndigbo to remain calm, keep the faith and wait for the new direction, which will be announced very soon.
“What is important is that the campaign to liberate Abia State would surely assume a new dimension. The time is now.”
In another statement, he said: “Everybody will make a sacrifice, I have decided to make a sacrifice, I will never be part of anything bad for Abia State, what we won’t do is to step away from the political process, by tomorrow, I will announce a new direction, you can follow me if you like.”
Meanwhile, Abaribe has announced his defection to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Addressing newsmen on Friday in Umuahia, the lawmaker said he has jettisoned running for Abia State governorship seat to seek re-election to the Senate under APGA in 2023 general elections.
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