The Senate has undertaken the removal of Senator Ali Ndume from his role as Chief Whip, opting to replace him with Senator Tahir Monguno. This decision came following a directive outlined in a letter penned by the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Bashir Ajibola.
In a decisive move, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the request to a voice vote, which was resoundingly affirmed by all APC senators. The party’s letter cited Ndume for allegedly making disparaging remarks against the administration of President Bola Tinubu, both domestically and on the international stage. These comments were viewed as detrimental to the government’s reputation and its efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).
According to the party’s correspondence, “You have been making uncouth and rabid outbursts against the government before the international community which is not only harmful to the government’s image but its effort to bring in Foreign Direct Investments. We are of the opinion that Mohammed Tahir Monguno should immediately replace Senator Ali Ndume who is bent on bringing down the country as the majority whip of the senate.”
Following his removal, Ndume lost not only his position as Chief Whip but also his seats as a principal officer and Vice-Chairman the Appropriation Committee. In a reshuffle, Senate President Akpabio appointed Ndume as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism.
In another change, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, senator representing Ondo Central, was appointed as the new chair of the judiciary and legal matters, a role initially expected to go to Monguno.
This recent development echoes Ndume’s earlier dismissal from the position of Senate leader during the eighth Senate under Bukola Saraki’s leadership in January 2017.