APC Senators plot Ndume’s removal as Senate leader

Senate majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume seems to have run into troubled waters with his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Baring any last minute change, Sen Ndume, will lose his seat, as forces within the ruling APC, who are displeased with the manner he handled the rejection saga of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, are bent on replacing him.

Multiple sources familiar with the infighting within the house of the ruling party, told Ripples Nigeria that series of meetings have already been held by a number of key and powerful APC Senators who have accused Ndume of sabotaging the Red Chamber.

Ndume, during the week, told State House correspondents that the Senate did not reject the nomination of Magu as chairman of EFCC. He also alleged that the embattled Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. David Babachir Lawal was not indicted by the Senate.

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He had stated: “Its not an order we are giving. The Senate resolution is a recommendation; it’s not a law. What the Senate considered is work in progress because it was an interim report.

“It is the same public that is interested and worried to know what we have done as a Senate about those allegations. The committee issued an interim report and the interim report seemed to indict the SGF, the consequences of that indictment is what they recommended but we are not there yet because the report itself is interim. Okay, we take the interim report, we give the public until the whole investigation is concluded.

“I hear, coming from the SGF that he has not been given a fair hearing, so the hearing has not finished. We can give him time to go before the committee and clear himself.”

His assertion, which sharply contradicted the position of the Senate, did not go down well. Twenty four hours after he made the assertions, the spokesman of the Senate,Abdullahi Sabi, told National Assembly correspondents that Ndume acted alone and that his statement did not reflect the position and views of the Senate.

Senator Sabi had retorted: “The call to national duty is crucial. So I am here based on series of calls and text messages from you about what you thought are conflicting messages. It has become critical for the senate to clarify issues. The 8th senate believes in its integrity; we uphold and promote the rule of law which is the basic thing about our democracy. We are committed to doing things differently to stabilize the polity in the collective interest of Nigerians.

“I would like to make the following clarifications. I am holding the votes and proceeding of Thursday.

“Our votes and proceedings are the official records of what transpired in chamber. I briefed you on Thursday to the effect that the senate is announcing that in view of security reports we were unable to confirm Magu. We then rejected and returned the nomination to Buhari for further action.”

Recall Ripples Nigeria had reported that Ndume had been unofficially hired by Magu weeks before the battered EFCC boss was rejected.
Both men hail from the same Senatorial District with the anti-graft czar in Borno State.

An aide to a ranking Senator from North West, who is also a former governor, told our correspondent that at least two meetings had been held by over 20 APC Senators and that many more will follow immediately after the yuletide period.

He said at the moment, President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki was not ready to directly intervene and save Ndume. The aide said Ndume has already lost the support of his fellow Senators from the North East.

“My oga (boss) has attended at least two meetings. APC lawmakers are not happy and may spring a surprise when they reconvene in January. If nothing is done by the leadership of the party, Ndume may be removed as Senate Leader.

“The forces against him are numerous. Many former governors who are the ‘big boys’ in the Senate are unhappy with the way he has handled the issue of Magu. They feel he is working with the executive and against the Senate,” the source said.

As at the time of filing this report, two names from the North East have already been tabled as possible replacements. The two lawmakers are Senators Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Ahmad Lawan, both from Yobe in North East Nigeria.

The source said APC lawmakers were going to likely settle for Ibrahim who is seen as a neutral person. He said Senator Lawan’s close relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari and key officials of his government will work against him.
By Ehisuan Odia…

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