FILE: All 39 APC senators who endorsed Ndume’s removal

Thirty-nine senators signed a letter titled ‘Notice of Vote of No Confidence/Change of Leadership’, which led to the exit of Ali Ndume as senate leader.

On Tuesday, Bukola Saraki, senate president, announced that Ndume had been replaced as the senate leader with Ahmed Lawan.

While reading the letter from the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus, Saraki did not give reasons for the change in leadership.

But, on Wednesday, Ndume told the plenary that he had accepted the change but he deserved an opportunity to defend himself against allegations that led to his removal.

“You [Ekweremadu] are one those who told me to stop, saying that I did not become a senate leader to lose confidence of anyone of you. That’s why I’m concerned about the loss of confidence; as far as I know, I did not do anything,” Ndume had said.

“But then, just like that, the senate caucus say they don’t have any confidence in me. I did not do anything, to the best of my knowledge. My colleagues — 30-something of them — signed. By the time you are removed, you are supposed to be confronted with allegations to defend yourself.

“If today, just like that, without telling somebody, he goes out, and by the time he is back, he has been removed… If it’s me today, it is okay; it may be. God forbid that it is Ekweremadu tomorrow. I wish my brother, the new senate leader — we have been struggling for this for a long time — the best to the service of this important institution.”

Now, Ndume has the chance to know the 39 APC senators who approved his ouster.