Ndume’s Removal an Assault on Democracy, Says Prof

• Professor Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja condemned the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate Chief Whip
• Kari criticized the APC and Senate for undermining democracy by denying Ndume’s right to freely express himself

Abubakar Kari, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Abuja, has condemned the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate Chief Whip. On Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership demanding Ndume’s removal as a principal officer in the 10th Senate.

The APC also asked Ndume, who has been critical of President Bola Tinubu, to resign and join any opposition party of his choice.

Kari disapproved of the decision, calling it an unfortunate act that true Democrats should condemn. “Democracy is a tradition with cardinal principles, one of which is freedom of expression,” Kari said. “Denying an individual or group the right to express themselves is a direct assault on democracy. This is the lens through which I view Ndume’s removal.”

He criticized both the APC and the Senate for undermining democracy, saying, “This will not foster democratic growth and consolidation if individuals are not allowed to assert themselves within the law freely. No one has shown any constitutional or legal violations by Ndume.”

Kari also pointed out that the incident reflects political intolerance and a lack of internal party democracy. “The APC, which is supposed to be a democratic party, stands guilty and condemned for this assault on democracy,” he added.

In an interview last week, Ndume remarked that President Tinubu had been “fenced off and caged.” He also criticized the government’s inaction on food scarcity, warning of the severe consequences if combined with the existing security crisis.

“Nigerians are getting very angry. The government must urgently address the food crisis. We lack a food reserve, and the lack of food is the worst crisis a nation can face,” Ndume said.

His comments sparked reactions from the pro-Tinubu camp, with both Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and the APC criticizing his statements as derogatory.