A prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress and former National Agricultural Land Development Authority executive secretary, Prince Paul Ikonne, has articulated reasons why Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District, will not retain his position in the upper legislative chamber come 2027.
In a statement released on Thursday, Ikonne asserted that the senator’s constituents across Abia State have collectively decided against his re-election after nearly two decades in the Senate, citing a lack of visible developmental achievements in the district during his tenure.
Ikonne remarked, ‘Senator Abaribe is effectively heading home. After 20 years in the Senate, there simply aren’t any tangible results. You can search the entire Abia South and you won’t find a single constituency project attributed to him. Interestingly, Abia South serves as the economic engine of Abia State and the entire Southeast region, given that Aba is the commercial hub. Moreover, it is the oil-producing zone of the state. Yet, there is nothing to show for it. So, he’s already on his way back, and some groups are even advocating for him to receive a traditional title to take over a community in his local government area.’
Ikonne, who recently announced his own intention to contest the senatorial election in Abia State, also predicted that following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anticipated re-election in 2027, the Southeast would be entitled to a full eight-year presidential term.