Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has publicly disassociated himself from the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.
The veteran lawmaker, who has served in the National Assembly for more than two decades, made his position clear during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Referencing political history, Ndume pointed out that in 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan also received the backing of 22 PDP governors but still lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
“Jonathan had 22 governors then endorsing him like was done now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully. A lot of money was spent. Even the election was shifted but we are not learning our lessons. I pity Mr President,” he remarked.
On May 22, 2025, 22 APC state governors jointly declared their support for President Tinubu to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential election. However, Ndume, a senior member of the ruling party, opposed the move, citing Nigeria’s worsening economic and security situation.
“Things are very bad in the country,” he said, pointing to the rising cost of living and persistent insecurity. “Nigerians cannot see any hope, they are doubting the Renewed Hope.”
Ndume also disclosed that he left the venue of the endorsement—held at the Presidential Villa’s Banquet Hall—once it became clear that the event had taken a political turn. “I was there but that was not why I was there; I was there for a summit and when I realised that it was not a summit and voice vote was put about the endorsement of Mr President, I just left, and that does not mean I am not an APC member. The majority had its way but few of us felt that was not right,” he said.
While acknowledging that party endorsements are common in politics, the senator stressed that they are not always reflective of the public’s sentiment. “It happened before, not once, not twice. It happened during Jonathan. That does not mean anything. Politicians are decamping but the people who are the voters are not decamping.”
He advised President Tinubu to reflect on historical outcomes and recognize that political endorsements, no matter how grand, do not guarantee electoral victory. “I hope that he would look back historically and see that the gathering of people to endorse you does not mean anything.”
Ndume, who first entered the National Assembly in 2003 as a member of the House of Representatives for Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza and later moved to the Senate in 2011, remains one of the longest-serving federal lawmakers in Nigeria.
