By Comfort Olayinka
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has denounced the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate’s Chief Whip, accusing the Senate leadership under Senator Godswill Akpabio of suppressing dissent and undermining democratic representation.
In a statement, CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani condemned the move, stating that it demonstrates a worrying trend of silencing senators and preventing them from voicing the concerns of the Nigerian people. The organization likened the action to autocracy and warned that it erodes the Senate’s mandate and weakens the legislature as an independent arm of government.
CISLAC highlighted Ndume’s significant contributions to the current Senate leadership and governance, emphasizing that his removal reflects sycophancy and undermines the Senate’s credibility. The organization also expressed concerns about the Senate leadership’s alignment with executive policies and self-serving interests, which it sees as a threat to democratic principles and free speech.
The group criticized the character and integrity of the Senate’s current leadership, accusing them of silencing, intimidating, and harassing opposition senators. CISLAC emphasized that a thriving opposition is essential for democracy and called for an end to the suppression of dissenting voices in the Senate.
Said senators have a responsibility to connect with the people, speak out against injustice, and voice the demands of their constituents. The organization criticized the silence of senators from various parties, including the APC, PDP, LP, and APGA, saying that party loyalty should not supersede their duty to checkmate the excesses of the executive arm of government.
The organization urged senators to speak out against the country’s dire situation, including kidnappings, killings, and hunger, and to prioritize the people’s interests over party loyalty. CISLAC warned that the silencing of opposition voices and outspoken senators like Ndume and Abdul Ahmed Ningi would render the Senate irrelevant and perpetuate anti-people agendas and unaccountable governance in Nigeria.
“The Senate leadership’s alignment with executive anti-people policies and
self-serving interests raises concerns about its autonomy,” the non-
government organization added. “It portrays the Senate as a mere extension
of the executive, contradicting its role as a check on government excesses.”
“The Senate leadership’s alignment with executive anti-people policies and
self-serving interests raises concerns about its autonomy,” the non-
government organization added. “It portrays the Senate as a mere extension
of the executive, contradicting its role as a check on government excesses.”
“They have silenced, intimidated, and harassed opposition senators, forcing
them to keep quiet. This is not democratic, and it’s not acceptable,” CISLAC
stated.
“There must be room for opposition in the Senate. Democracy only
flourishes where a thriving opposition exists. The opposition parties have
been silenced, and this should not be tolerated
“All the other senators shouldn’t just keep quiet in times like this. The Senate
has various parties—APC, PDP, LP, and APGA—and they are all quiet when
they are supposed to hold the central government accountable. They are
supposed to checkmate the excesses of the other arms of government
irrespective of party loyalty. You should not keep quiet as a legislator; you’re
only undermining democracy if you do. Being loyal to the party does not
mean you should be quiet when people are kidnapped, killed, and hungry.
It’s an anti-people action to stay silent when the country is not going well.
You should not just keep quiet when the country is in hard times, and this is
not acceptable,” they added.
“In silencing dissent and marginalizing outspoken senators like Ndume and
Abdul Ahmed Ningi, the Senate risks rendering itself irrelevant. Rather than
penalizing Senator Ndume for advocating on behalf of Nigerians, his
contributions should be acknowledged and respected.”
