Senate Ousts Ndume as Chief Whip Following APC Resignation Demand

In a shake-up on Wednesday, the Senate announced the removal of Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume (Borno South) from his position as Chief Whip. The decision came after a voice vote, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, where members of the APC Senate Caucus supported Ndume’s ouster.

Senator Ndume, who has been vocal in his criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, was replaced by Tahir Mungono (Borno North). This move follows a letter from the national leadership of the ruling APC, urging Ndume to resign from the party and join an opposition party. The letter was signed by the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Secretary, Barrister Ajibola Bashiru.

Reports indicated that loyalists of President Tinubu were behind a plot to suspend Ndume. Sources at the National Assembly revealed that pro-Tinubu Senators aimed not only to strip Ndume of his position but also to suspend him, similar to the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) earlier this year.

In a recent interview at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Ndume criticized the government’s handling of the food crisis and accused the President of being out of touch with national issues. His remarks drew backlash from the pro-Tinubu camp, with Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and the APC condemning his statements.

According to sources, several Senators, predominantly from the South West, along with a Senator from Kogi, were instrumental in Ndume’s removal. Senate President Akpabio faced a dilemma due to Ndume’s past support as Director-General of the Stability Group, which played a key role in Akpabio’s election as Senate President in June 2023.