On Tuesday, former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume publicly apologized to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his comments about President Bola Tinubu during a live television interview.
The apology came a month after his removal from the position following his remarks on Arise TV, where he claimed Tinubu was unaware of the hardships Nigerians were facing.
Following his dismissal, Senator Tahir Monguno from Borno North replaced Ndume. The change followed a directive from APC’s National Chairman Umar Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Bashir Ajibola.
Ndume spoke to journalists after a two-hour closed-door meeting with the National Working Committee of the party in Abuja. He acknowledged his mistake but stood by his original comments.
Ndume said, “I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point. But whatever I said or did was out of patriotism. Those issues may have been said strongly but they are true.”
He emphasized the importance of consulting with the party before making public statements in the future.
“Next time when I want to talk, I will come and get clearance or at least talk to the party,” he added.
Ndume denied rumors that the party had expelled him.
“My membership? No, I have not been expelled. Even the party did not say we don’t want you here because the party is my father,” he clarified.
When asked if he planned to apologize to President Tinubu and the Senate, Ndume responded, “The President and the Senate have nothing to do with this. The President did not take offence. I didn’t insult the President or say anything against the party.”
APC National Chairman Ganduje confirmed Ndume’s apology and expressed satisfaction with his regret over the incident. He also revealed that the party would write to the Senate leadership to reconsider Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip.
Ganduje said, “We are quite satisfied with his apology. It is a family issue and we need to resolve it. We are writing to the National Assembly to convey what has transpired between Senator Ndume and the party.”