The Labour Party (LP) has criticized the removal of Senator Ali Ndume from his position as Senate chief whip, which occurred after the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded his removal during a plenary session. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the APC calling for Ndume’s resignation and suggesting that he join an opposition party.
Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, condemned Ndume’s removal, suggesting it was due to his outspoken criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s handling of issues like the high cost of living and food scarcity in Nigeria. Ifoh highlighted the situation as indicative of a trend towards dictatorship and criticized the ruling party for undermining the independence of the legislative branch.
Ifoh also pointed out previous instances of suppression, such as the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, who exposed budget padding in the government. He noted the economic crisis in Nigeria, citing a report from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating a 40.66 percent rise in food inflation. He accused the government of prioritizing expenditures like a presidential jet over addressing the economic hardships faced by citizens.
Ifoh called on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist the administration’s tactics, which he described as a tyranny of a cabal against legislative autonomy.