Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) has been appointed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism following his recent removal from the position of Chief Whip.

This reshuffling in the red chamber was prompted by Ndume’s removal as Senate Chief Whip, which came after he suggested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government has been hijacked during an interview with Arise TV.

Ndume, a former Senate leader, faced similar fate in January 2017 when he was removed as leader of the 8th Senate. After his recent removal, Senate President Godwin Akpabio reassigned him to lead the Senate Committee on Tourism. In addition to losing his role as Chief Whip, Ndume’s deputy chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Appropriations was also revoked, reducing him to chairman of the Committee on Tourism. His successor as Chief Whip, Senator Monguno, also assumed the role of deputy chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Despite these changes, the Senate opted for a lenient approach towards Ndume. Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC Ekiti North) proposed that Ndume face the Senate Committee on Code of Conduct, Ethics, and Privileges regarding allegations against him. In response, Akpabio, acknowledging the APC NWC’s request for Ndume’s removal and approval, urged forgiveness for Ndume at this time, aiming to save him from suspension.