Borno South Senator Ali Ndume shared how former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu instructed him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) years ago. Ndume disclosed this in a video posted by Channels Television on Friday.
Ndume, recently removed as Senate Chief Whip, explained that “the decision to join the APC was not his alone.”
He recounted that Buhari and Tinubu ordered him to sign a document at the Imo State Lodge, making him a member of the APC.
“I am a founding member of APC. I was in APC before the national chairman because I am a member of the PDP that formed the APC,” Ndume stated.
He further detailed, “We were the 22 senators that joined to form the APC. We were called nPDP then, and if you check history, my name is number 21 out of 22. I initially did not want to join APC, but Buhari and Tinubu ordered me to sign at the Imo government lodge. Tinubu was sitting there; only the three of us were called aside to sign.”
Ndume’s removal as Senate Chief Whip came after a letter from APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and national secretary Basiru Ajibola cited his criticism of the Tinubu administration. The party leaders suggested Ndume should quit the party and join the opposition.
Related Stories
- After Anti-Tinubu Comments, APC Replaces Ali Ndume with Tahir Mongunu as Senate Chief Whip
- For Harmful Comments About Tinubu, Senate Removed Ndume As Senate Chief Whip
Responding to this, Ndume said he would consult with his constituents before making a final decision.
“I take his advice and will get across to my people. I am here in Maiduguri because I am bereaved and did not issue an immediate statement to avoid overreacting,” he said.
Ndume also revealed that he was urged to accept the Chief Whip position due to his successful campaign for Godswill Akpabio as Senate President. He was allowed to choose any committee to be vice chairman of and chose the Appropriations Committee.
“I was begged to accept the position of Chief Whip,” he explained, adding that his removal was “an act of God” and that he bore no grudges.
Reflecting on his political journey, Ndume said, “After all, I did not contest to be the Chief Whip. I contested to be one of the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Alhamdulillah, God granted me that victory.”