Former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume apologizes to APC

Ali Ndume, the immediate past Chief Whip of the Senate, has publicly apologized to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his remarks on a live television program that embarrassed President Bola Tinubu.

His apology comes one month after he was removed from his position following the interview in which he claimed that Tinubu was “caged” and unaware of the hardships facing Nigerians.

Ndume was replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno, following a directive from APC’s National Chairman, Umar Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Bashir Ajibola.

After a closed-door meeting with the party’s National Working Committee, Ndume expressed regret for not consulting the party before making his statements but stood by the content of his remarks.

Ndume denied rumors of his expulsion from the party and clarified that he has no plans to leave the APC. Ganduje confirmed the apology, describing the matter as a family issue that needed resolution.

Addressing journalists after a two-hour closed-door meeting with members of the party’s National Working Committee at its secretariat in Abuja, the senator said that though he has tendered an unreserved apology to the party, he stands by what he told Nigerians in the interview.

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He said, “Yesterday, I was invited to the party and here I am to discuss family matters. Actually, the national chairman is not just a chairman to me but also a father. With what has happened, it is not surprising that I was invited to hear my side and we had a family discussion.

“I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I told the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended with the party. That is something that will be corrected moving forward. But whatever I said or did was out of patriotism.

“Those issues may have been said strongly but they are true. Again, I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop. Next time when I want to talk, I will come and get clearance or at least talk to the party.”

When asked to address the speculation that his membership was withdrawn by the ruling party, Ndume expressed surprise.

“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. “The only thing the party said is that ‘If you don’t want this house, you can go to any house.’ But where will I go? This is my house,” he added.

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The lawmaker also waved aside the question on whether he plans to apologise to the President and the Senate over the development.

He stated, “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.”

Ganduje also confirmed to journalists that Ndume has apologised and expressed regret over the incident.

He said, “We are quite satisfied with his apology. As he said, we invited him. As a party, the APC is the father of everybody. We are free to invite legislators, members of the executive and even all appointed party members in the government. That is why we decided to come together.

“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. As you are aware, he has apologised to the party with the hope that they can review their