The Senate at plenary today (Tuesday) removed its majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) and replaced him immediately with the initial party candidate Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North)
There are strong indications that the ousted Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume was removed from office to settle the inner rancor in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to TheNewGuru’s findings Ndume’s removal which comes as senate is closing the plenary sitting for the day is said to be part of the on-going reconciliatory process in the APC.
Remember, Ahmed Lawan from Yobe State was the nominee of the APC leadership but the party’s North East Caucus members in the Senate then insisted that they preferred Ndume. Now, like in the House of Reps, the party leadership choice is getting the slot.
I am still Senate Majority Leader – Ndume
Meanwhile, Ndume has maintained that he remains the Senate Leader.
However, Ndume was quoted to have said that he remains the senate leader.
“I still remain Senate Leader,” he said at a press briefing. He said he was unaware of his removal by the APC Senate Caucus.
Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki read a letter from APC caucus on the change in the Senate leadership.
Recall that Lawan was the choice of the Bola Tinubu group for the Senate presidency in 2015.
But on the day the Senate convened for its first plenary, Saraki, with the support of the minority PDP caucus seized control and took over the leadership.
Lawan was not even around to contest the seat, as he was held up at the International Conference Centre for a meeting, that never held, with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Saraki’s emergence created divisions in the APC. The crisis was accentuated when he refused to adopt Lawan and some other nominees of the party sent by the party leadership for various positions.