The media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has criticised the Senate leadership over the controversy surrounding the defection of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Ibe made the remarks in a post on his 𝕏 handle while reacting to tensions that reportedly arose in the Senate on Thursday after Abaribe’s defection was announced during plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The development followed questions raised by some lawmakers regarding the constitutional implications of Abaribe’s move from APGA to the ADC.
The issue reportedly sparked debate on the floor of the Senate over whether the lawmaker’s defection complied with constitutional provisions.
Reacting to the situation, Ibe accused the Senate leadership of selectively invoking the constitution.
He questioned why similar concerns were not raised when lawmakers from opposition parties defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“All of a sudden, Tinubu’s lapdog Senate is invoking sections of the Nigerian Constitution in querying Senator Abaribe’s defection to the ADC,” he wrote.
Ibe further argued that Abaribe had already ceased to be a member of APGA before aligning with the ADC.
According to him, the Abia State chapter of the party had indefinitely suspended the senator on September 26, 2025, over alleged anti-party activities.
“It is a shame that they don’t know or pretend not to know that Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe was indefinitely suspended from APGA by the Abia State chapter on September 26, 2025, for alleged anti-party activities,” he stated.
He maintained that the suspension meant the senator was no longer a member of the party when he identified with the ADC.
Ibe also urged the Senate leadership to focus on legislative responsibilities instead of what he described as political distractions.
“So, Akpabio and his lackeys should save their energies for making laws for the good of Nigerians and not just serving as Tinubu’s yes-men and yes-women,” he added.
