Profile
Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe is the senator representing the Abia-South Senatorial District of Abia State in the Senate of Nigeria since April 2007. He previously served as the Deputy Governor of Abia State between 1999 and 2003, under the leadership of Orji Kalu. He was also the former Senate Minority Leader from 2019 to 2022. Abaribe is known to be an outspoken senator who often contributes to conversations on national issues. He holds the traditional title, “ Nwadiohanma Ngwa”.
Personal Life
He was born on 1st March 1955, in Aba, Abia State. He is married to Florence Nwamaka, and they have three children: Chinonyerem Alali, Obinna Ikechukwu, and Ikenna Enyinnaya Nwabueze. In 2021, he launched his biography, titled, “ Made in Aba: A Life of Coincidences”.
Education
| School | Qualification | Year |
| University of Benin, Edo State | MS.c Economics | 1982 |
| University of Benin, Edo State | BS.c Economics | 1979 |
| Government College, Umuahia, Abia State | West African Senior School Certificate | 1974 |
Work History
| Place | Position | Date |
| Integrated Mortgage Co. | Managing Director | 1993-1995 |
| NICON Plc. | Senior Investment Manager | 1991-1992 |
| SCOA Nigeria Plc. | Area Manager for Southern Nigeria | 1985-1991 |
| Edo State University, Edo State | Lecturer | 1982-1985 |
Made In Aba Senator
Aba, Abia State
March 1st, 1955
Abia State
People’s Democratic Party
Christianity
Deputy Governor, Abia State (1999-2003)
Senate Member, Representing Abia South Senatorial District (since 2007)
Senate Minority Leader (since 2019)
Political History
Abaribe got into politics by being elected into the Abia State House of Representatives on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1997. He went on to become a Deputy Governor in May 1999. He was however impeached by the Abia State House of Assembly twice, in 2000. Upon facing his third impeachment in 2003, he resigned from his office as Deputy Governor sending his resignation letter to the House of Assembly, which stated that he was owed over ₦61 million by the state government. Nonetheless, he was still formally voted out by the House of Assembly a few days later. Abaribe described this move as “medicine after death”. That same year, Abaribe ran for the office of governorship on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), but he lost to Orji Kalu.
In 2007, Abaribe was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Abia South Senatorial District, through the People’s Democratic Party. He has held this office all through the 6th to 9th National Assembly.
Abaribe was one of the 7 Southeastern senators who protested at the Federal High Court of Lagos in October 2007, to demand the release of Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the banned secessionist organization, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who was on trial for treason.
In the 7th assembly, Abaribe served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity. In the 8th assembly, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy (2015-2019). On 13th June 2019, he was appointed as the Senate Minority leader of the 9th National Assembly.
He was the former Senate Minority Leader under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He left the People’s Democratic Party in May 2022 to join under the umbrella of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as their current senatorial candidate for Abia South senatorial district.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Awards & Honours
2022 Award for Courageous and Purposeful Leadership in Challenging Times by the Anglican Church of Nigeria
2019 Distinguished Service Award by the World Igbo Congress
2016 Most Innovative Senator in Constituency Projects conferred by the Senate Press Corps
Project
- Facilitation of the supply and installation of solar-powered street lights in the Obingwa LGA, Abia State
- Donation over 200 transformers to several communities in Abia South constituency
- Construction of a mini sports stadium at Ahiaba High School, Obingwa
- Renovation of Ohuru primary school, Obingwa
- Donation of solar powered grid and 20KVA generating sets at General Hospital, Onicha Ngwa, Obingwa and Seventh- Day Adventist Hospital, Aba
- Attracted the Obinubi-Mgbedala road project in Amuzu, Umuahia, Abia
- Pioneer of the annual “Made in Aba Trade Fair” held in Abuja – an effort to sensitise government leaders on the need to patronise locally made products
