The Senate has removed Ali Ndume from his position as Chief Whip, replacing him with Tahir Monguno. The decision, announced on Wednesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, followed a directive from the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership. Ndume was accused of making disparaging comments about President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a letter read by Akpabio, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Secretary Bashir Ajibola criticized Ndume for his “unguarded utterances” against the federal government. The party leaders stated that Ndume’s comments were detrimental to Nigeria’s image and efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment.
“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,” the letter stated. They recommended Tahir Monguno as his replacement.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of the change. Following the vote, Akpabio directed the Sergeant at Arms to escort Monguno to the Chief Whip’s seat in the front row.
As part of a broader reshuffling, Ndume was appointed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, with Anthony Ane (APC, Ebonyi) serving as Deputy Chairman. Monguno will also serve as Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Adeniyi Adegbomire (APC, Ondo Central), a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, will now head the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. Other new appointments include Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North) as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation, Musa Mustapha (APC, Yobe East) as Chairman of the Committee on Livestock Development, Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Institutions, and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) reinstated as Chairman of the Committee on Population.
This is the second time Ndume has been removed from a leadership position in the Senate. He was previously sacked as Senate Leader in 2017 during Bukola Saraki’s tenure as Senate President.
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