The Nigerian Senate has removed Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume (Borno South) from his position as Chief Whip of the Senate.
This decision was made during a plenary session on Wednesday, where the removal was sponsored by lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, who form the majority in the Senate.
Ndume’s removal comes after he recently criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government, particularly regarding issues of food insecurity and lack of access to the president.
In a letter to the Senate Caucus, the APC’s national leadership, represented by the party chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Secretary Ajibola Bashiru, urged Ndume to resign from the APC and join an opposition party of his choice.
Ndume was replaced as Chief Whip by Tahir Mungono, the Senator representing Borno North.
This move highlights the intolerance of the pro-Tinubu faction within the Senate towards any criticism of the president’s administration. Ndume had described the Nigerian government as being run by “kakistocrats” and “kleptocrats” who prioritize personal interests over the well-being of the nation and its citizens
