Senator Ali Ndume has expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement by 22 APC governors may not guarantee victory in the 2027 presidential election.
The lawmaker from Borno South warned that the APC appears to be repeating the same political mistakes that cost former President Goodluck Jonathan his re-election bid in 2015, despite receiving similar backing from 22 state governors under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, Ndume said:
“I pity Mr. President. Even though he once said this is not the time for campaigns, look around—the campaigning has already started under the guise of endorsements.”
“Tinubu could be given the Jonathan treatment because Jonathan also had 22 governors who endorsed him like we did now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully. We are not learning our lesson.”
Ndume warned that the endorsements might create a false sense of security, pointing to the growing frustration among Nigerians due to economic hardship, rising insecurity, and the high cost of living.
The senator also disclosed that he deliberately walked out of the Presidential Villa Banquet Hall during the recent endorsement session, explaining that he was not there for political support rallies but for a summit.
“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.
Ndume pointed out that the 2015 scenario serves as a lesson:
“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 also voiced concern over the reported push for automatic return tickets for sitting lawmakers within the APC, warning that sidelining the party’s grassroots supporters could spell electoral disaster.
“When the rumour came that National Assembly members might get automatic tickets, the party denied it. So, who will be the foot soldiers? You cannot rely on governors alone,” Ndume cautioned.
The senator urged President Tinubu to act swiftly and initiate policies that will directly benefit Nigerians before the next election, warning that the next two years are critical.
“There’s still time to turn things around. The suffering we’re talking about is just within two years. If in the next two years, the president can make Nigerians happy—really happy—then nobody will contest against him,” Ndume concluded.
