Senator Ndume apologises to APC after criticising Tinubu’s govt

Ndume, representing Borno South in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, emphasized that he stands by his statements, maintaining that his actions were motivated by patriotism.

“Yesterday, I was called in by the party, and I am here to address the family matters related to recent events, which you are all aware of. To me, the national chairman is not just a leader; he is like a father,” the senator remarked.

“It was not unexpected for me to be invited to share my perspective, and we engaged in family discussions. I acknowledged my mistake in not addressing the party before speaking out, and I assured the party that my concerns, as a senior member, should have been communicated internally first.

“Nonetheless, my words and actions stemmed from a place of patriotism. While my comments may have been strong, they reflect the truth; however, I should have first brought these issues to the party.”

Following a letter from the ruling party requesting disciplinary action against him for his damaging and careless remarks about the President, Ndume was removed from his position and replaced by Senator Mohammed Monguno.

The letter, co-signed by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, instructed the Senate to sanction Ndume for failing to use party channels to voice his displeasure before going public.

In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ndume had stated that President Bola Tinubu was being manipulated by certain forces within the Presidential Villa.

He alleged these individuals were feeding the President misinformation and isolating him from well-meaning Nigerians who could provide honest feedback.

His criticisms ultimately resulted in his removal from his role as a principal officer in the National Assembly and as a committee chairman.