A fresh crisis is brewing in the National Assembly between the Tenth Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno Central and the erstwhile Chief Whip of the Senate. Ndume has rejected the official request to vacate his current office on the fourth floor of the Senate complex to make way for the new Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, Senator representing Borno North.

Following his removal as a principal officer by the APC Senate Caucus on July 17, President Akpabio instructed the Chairman of the Senate Services Committee to request that Ndume vacate his office. However, Senator Ndume has resisted this move.

In a letter dated July 30, 2024, addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, Ndume firmly declined to vacate his current office. The letter, signed by Yati Shuaibu Gawu, Ndume’s Chief Confidential Secretary, read in part:

The Chairman, Senate Services Committee, National Assembly

RE: OFFICE ALLOCATION

“I am directed to inform you that Distinguished Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has rejected the allocation of office number 3.10 by the Committee. This is because offices are traditionally allocated on a seniority basis. Senator Ndume is the most senior Senator after Senator Ahmad Lawan and will only occupy an office on the fourth floor.”

“Thanks and best regards,

Yati Shuaibu Gawu

Chief Confidential Secretary

For: Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume.”

Ndume was removed from his position as Senate Chief Whip and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation at the request of APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Ganduje accused Ndume of casting aspersions on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he deemed unbecoming of Ndume’s status as a senior lawmaker and member of the ruling party. (Nigerian Tribune)