Senate Removes Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume as Chief Whip Amid Controversy

• Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume has been removed from his position as Chief Whip by the Senate, replaced by Tahir Mungono amid controversy.
  Party Directive and Tensions: The APC leadership directed Ndume to resign and join an opposition party following his criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, reflecting escalating internal tensions.
• Senators from the South West, supported by a Senator from Kogi State, played a pivotal role in Ndume’s removal, while Northern Senators are reportedly mobilizing in his defense.
• Ndume’s removal underscores significant power struggles and divisions within the APC, complicating Senate dynamics under Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s leadership.

Senate Removes Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume as Chief Whip Amid Controversy

In a significant development on Wednesday, the Senate announced the removal of Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume (Borno South) from his position as Chief Whip. The decision was made during plenary and endorsed by members of the APC Senate Caucus through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Ndume, a prominent figure within the APC, was replaced by Tahir Mungono (Borno North) following recent criticisms he leveled against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The move came alongside a directive from the APC national leadership urging Ndume to resign from the party and join any opposition party of his choice. This directive, conveyed in a letter signed by the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Secretary Barrister Ajibola Bashiru, underscores the escalating tensions within the party.

Sources within the National Assembly revealed that there were plans among pro-Tinubu Senators to not only remove Ndume from his position but also to suspend him, similar to the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) earlier this year.

Ndume’s recent criticisms, particularly regarding the government’s handling of economic and social issues, sparked controversy within the party. In a recent interview, Ndume voiced concerns over the government’s management of food scarcity and criticized the administration’s response to security challenges.

His comments drew sharp reactions from Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and the APC leadership, labeling Ndume’s statements as derogatory and out of line.

Interestingly, sources indicate that the move against Ndume was largely driven by Senators from the South West, including Ekiti, Ogun, and Lagos, with support from a Senator from Kogi State. This faction’s actions have put Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a challenging position, considering Ndume’s past role as Director-General of the Stability Group, which supported Akpabio’s presidency bid in 2023.

Despite the brewing controversy, Northern Senators are reportedly deliberating on their stance, poised to defend Ndume against what they perceive as attempts to destabilize their caucus.

In response to these developments, stakeholders from the North, under the Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), expressed solidarity with Ndume. They commended his courage in speaking out against government policies that have adversely affected Nigerians, particularly in the wake of economic hardships exacerbated by recent policy decisions.

As tensions rise within the APC and the Senate at large, Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip marks a pivotal moment in Nigerian politics, highlighting internal divisions and power struggles within the ruling party.