APGA Asks Defecting Lawmakers Abaribe, Ikwechegh to Vacate National Assembly Seats

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State has called on two federal lawmakers, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, to vacate their seats in the National Assembly after defecting from the party.

APGA said the lawmakers were elected on its platform and should relinquish their mandates after moving to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP), respectively.

Speaking at a press conference in Aba, the party’s state publicity secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, said the defections did not come as a surprise to the party.

According to him, their departure had instead “liberated” the party from what he described as political pressure.

“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,” Nwokoro said.

He insisted that both lawmakers should immediately relinquish their seats in the National Assembly of Nigeria, arguing that the mandates belong to the party under which they were elected.

“The seats they are occupying at the National Assembly belong to APGA. It is only honourable that they vacate them immediately,” he said.

While acknowledging that defections are common in Nigeria’s political system, Nwokoro said the exit of the lawmakers would not weaken the party.

The party also accused the defectors of contributing little to its growth in Abia State during their time as members.

According to Nwokoro, the party had learnt “bitter lessons” from the development and would prevent what he described as political opportunists from hijacking the party in the future.

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He added that APGA, under the leadership of its Abia State chairman, Sunday Onukwubiri, was repositioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nwokoro called on politicians interested in contesting on the party’s platform in 2027 to join early, warning that APGA would no longer serve as a “last resort” for desperate politicians.

“APGA has come to stay in Abia State. No amount of political manoeuvring will distract us as we march towards 2027,” he said.