>
By Emmanuel Adeleke
Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and resigned his position as the Minority Leader in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Abaribe, who was one of the top contenders for the party’s governorship race in Abia State, pulled out of the primary few hours to the election.
Abaribe announced his resignation in separate letters addressed to both the PDP ward chairman in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.
Abaribe attributed his action to the illegality, impunity and hesitations in decision-making in the party.
He said his next move would be communicated at the appropriate time.
His letter to the party’s ward Chairman read: “I write to inform you of my decision to resign as a member of (the) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“This development is consequent upon the shameful display of illegality, impunity and undemocratic decision of the party and after due consultations with my constituents.”
In the letter addressed to Lawan, Abaribe wrote: “This is to notify you and my dear colleagues in the Senate that I have formally resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party through my ward.
“This also means my resignation as (the) Minority Leader of the Senate.
“I wish to thank you and my dear colleagues in the Leadership of the Senate for the warm camaraderie we enjoyed while I was Minority Leader.”