APGA Demands Abaribe, Ikwechegh Step Down from National Assembly Positions Following Party Switch

By Steve Oko

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has asked two federal lawmakers, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, to vacate their seats in the National Assembly following their recent defections to other political parties.

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

Addressing a press conference in Aba, APGA’s Abia State Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, said the departure of the two lawmakers did not come as a surprise to the party.

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

“The actions of these men did not come to us as a surprise. Rather, it is a prayer answered for the speedy recovery and liberation of APGA,” Nwokoro said.

The party insisted that the lawmakers should immediately vacate their seats in the National Assembly since they were elected on APGA’s platform.

Nwokoro argued that the mandates belong to the party, stressing that it would be morally right for the defectors 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, APGA maintained that the exit of the two lawmakers would not affect the party’s prospects.

The party also accused Abaribe and Ikwechegh of contributing little to its growth in Abia State during their time as leaders within the party, alleging that their actions amounted to sabotage of APGA’s development in the state.

APGA said it had learned “bitter lessons” from the development and vowed not to allow political opportunists to hijack the party in the future.

The party further assured its members and supporters that it would emerge stronger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nwokoro said APGA, under the leadership of its Abia State chairman, Sunday Onukwubiri, is already repositioning to achieve greater success in the next electoral cycle.

He also called on those 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 politicians seeking electoral tickets.

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