Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South in the National Assembly, has formally resigned from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and pitched his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a major realignment in the state’s opposition politics.
Abaribe announced his defection on Wednesday, bringing to an end weeks of intense speculation surrounding his political future amid deepening internal crises within APGA.
Explaining his decision, the senator said it followed what he described as irreconcilable differences with the leadership style, internal processes and overall direction of the party he had long served.
According to him, the ADC presents a more credible and principled political platform that aligns with his long-standing ideals, especially his commitment to accountability, internal democracy and national renewal.
“After wide consultations, I have taken the decision to formally resign from APGA and align with the African Democratic Congress, which provides a clearer vision for good governance and national renewal,” Abaribe said.
The lawmaker stressed that Nigeria urgently requires a strong, coherent and principled opposition capable of offering citizens a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 general election.
Abaribe’s departure comes after months of strained relations between him and the APGA leadership, largely over concerns about internal party democracy, candidate selection procedures and what he described as the marginalisation of critical stakeholders.
He had, on several occasions, publicly criticised the party’s leadership for what he saw as unilateral decision-making and a persistent failure to build internal consensus.
In recent months, the senator was also reportedly at the centre of sharp disagreements over APGA’s political strategy in Abia State, with party insiders saying he resisted moves he believed would erode the party’s independence at the national level.
Sources close to the development said Abaribe was particularly dissatisfied with APGA’s approach to political alliances and its perceived posture toward the ruling party, which he allegedly viewed as a betrayal of the party’s founding ideals.
A former Deputy Governor of Abia State and one of APGA’s most prominent national figures for decades, Abaribe’s exit is seen as a significant blow to the party and a boost to the ADC, especially as it consolidates around Peter Obi and other leading opposition figures ahead of the next electoral cycle.
