ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- 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 following their defection to other political parties.
The party said both lawmakers were elected on APGA’s platform and should relinquish their mandates after moving to the African Democratic Congress and the Labour Party respectively.
Speaking at a press conference in Aba, the party’s publicity secretary in the state, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, said the departure of the lawmakers did not come as a surprise.
According to him, their exit had rather liberated the party from what he described as “political hostage and asphyxiation.”
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Nwokoro insisted that since the lawmakers secured their seats on APGA’s platform, it would be honourable for them to relinquish the positions.
“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 political defections are part of Nigeria’s democratic process, the party maintained that the exit of the lawmakers would not affect its political fortunes.
APGA further accused the two politicians of contributing little to the growth of the party in Abia State during their time as leaders.
According to Nwokoro, the party has learnt lessons from the development and would not allow political opportunists to hijack its structure in the future.
He said the party, under the leadership of its state chairman, Sunday Onukwubiri, is already repositioning to strengthen its structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nwokoro also urged politicians interested in contesting elections on APGA’s platform in 2027 to join the party early, warning that it would no longer serve as a “last resort” for desperate politicians.