Abaribe, a former Deputy Governor of Abia, was one of the top contenders for the PDP governorship ticket in Abia State.
Senate Minority Leader and governorship aspirant in Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has reportedly dumped the Peoples Democratic Party and resigned as the Minority Leader of the Senate.
Abaribe, a former Deputy Governor of Abia, was one of the top contenders for the PDP governorship ticket in Abia State.
Abaribe withdrew his participation from the party's governorship primary which was held on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reported that the former deputy Governor had confirmed his exit from the PDP and as a minority leader in both the party and the Senate in separate letters to the ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the President of the Senate in the National Assembly.
Abaribe cited reasons of illegality, impunity and hesitations in decision-making for his decision to dump the party.
He said his next move would be communicated at the appropriate time.
The letter was titled “Resignation of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP."
It read in part, “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.”
On his resignation as a member of the party in the upper chamber of the national assembly and the minority leader in the senate addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Lawan Ahmed, the letter titled, “Notification of Resignation from the Membership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Senate,” read in part, “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.”
Meanwhile, sources close to the Senator told SaharaReporters on Friday that he is going to contest the governorship of Abia State on the platform of the All Progressive Ground Alliance (APGA).
According to one of the sources, "as we speak, Abaribe is moving to APGA and is going to contest the governorship on that platform. In less than 48 hours, he will officially unveil and declare his movement.