By 
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, to clearify his alleged romance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or face sanctions.
APGA, in a statement released after its caucus meeting in Umuahia on Tuesday night, informed the former Senate Minority Leader that no individual can belong to two political parties at the same time, and demanded he publicly declare his political stance.
Abia APGA accused Senator Abaribe of neglecting the party after winning his current Senate mandate on its platform, alleging that he had been promoting ADC at his event centre in Aba during meetings held on August 18 and September 23.
A statement, signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, further cited claims by the Abia ADC secretary on a radio programme that Abaribe is a card-carrying member and leader of ADC in the state, a statement the senator has not publicly denied.
Meanwhile, in a swiftly response, Abaribe’s media aide, Uchenna Awom, dismissed the ultimatum, stating that the senator remains accessible to the party as its leader in Abia.
He described the claims as rumours, advising APGA to formally reach out to the senator rather than resorting to “arm-twisting.”
He said, “Senator Abaribe is alive. As APGA leader in Abia, the party has all the channels to access him. He doesn’t have any issues with them. They should write him and personally hear from him,” Awom said.
Speaking on whether the senator had defected to ADC, Awom replied: “As an experienced politician, he knows how to go about it. Has he communicated to them that he has left APGA?”
On its part, APGA, has insisted that Abaribe’s actions amount to a gross violation of its constitution, maintaining that it would be compelled to apply disciplinary measures if he fails to issue a public denial of his alleged defection within the given timeframe.
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