The ruling All Progressives Congress has started discussions with the Senate leadership to facilitate the reinstatement of Senator Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip.
This decision comes a month after Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, was removed from the position due to his frequent public criticisms of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC.
The Borno lawmaker asserted that the President had been shielded from understanding the struggles of Nigerians, causing dissatisfaction within the ruling party.
Ndume was promptly replaced by Tahir Monguno, the senator representing Borno North, following a directive issued in a letter by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola.
The request was put to voice votes by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and was strongly supported by all the APC senators.
Last Tuesday, a subdued Ndume, after a two-hour private meeting with the National Working Committee in Abuja, informed journalists that he had sincerely apologized to the APC.
Confirming the development, APC National Chairman Ganduje stated that Ndume’s apology had been accepted, referring to the situation as an internal matter.
“We are communicating with the National Assembly to relay the discussions between Senator Ndume and the party. As he has apologized to the party, we hope they can reconsider their decision,” Ganduje remarked.
Three days after the meeting, an unnamed source at the party headquarters revealed that discussions had begun with the Senate leadership to review Ndume’s removal as the Chief Whip.
“As the national chairman mentioned earlier, the APC is consulting with the Senate leadership. It’s a family matter,” the source stated.
When approached, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, affirmed the ongoing consultations, noting that the Senate leadership held the authority to make the final decision.
According to Duru, the APC respects its party members and is open to welcoming back individuals who acknowledge their mistakes and comply with the party’s regulations.
He emphasized the importance of thorough consultations and discussions involving all concerned parties for a rightful resolution, underscoring the party’s adherence to the law and advocacy for consensus.
The National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, expressed that reinstating Ndume as Senate Chief Whip was a normal procedure as both the executive and legislative branches have the prerogative to rearrange roles as deemed necessary.
“There is no prohibition against his reinstatement. With Ndume’s seniority and the Senate’s aim for a harmonious environment, any decision to reinstate him will be meticulously executed,” Ibrahim remarked.