Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has publicly distanced himself from the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by 22 governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the gesture does not guarantee electoral success.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, June 8, Ndume recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan was backed by 22 governors from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2015 presidential election but still lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
“The endorsement of a president by governors doesn’t necessarily reflect the will of the people,” Ndume said. “It happened to Jonathan — 22 governors stood behind him, money was spent, the election was even postponed — but he still lost. We haven’t learned from history.”
Ndume stressed that defections and endorsements by politicians mean little compared to the will of the electorate. “Politicians can decamp, but voters don’t,” he added.
Addressing his opposition to the APC governors’ endorsement of Tinubu for 2027, Ndume cited worsening economic conditions, rising insecurity, and the high cost of living in the country. “Nigerians are struggling to survive. They can’t see hope — many are beginning to doubt the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda,” he said.
The senator revealed he walked out of the Banquet Hall at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when the endorsement took place. “I attended what was supposed to be a summit, but when it turned into a voice vote for endorsing the president, I quietly left. That doesn’t make me any less of an APC member — I just didn’t agree with that approach.”
Ndume, a seasoned lawmaker, has been in the National Assembly since 2003. He represented Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State for two terms before moving to the Senate in 2011, where he has served as the Senator for Borno South ever since.
He concluded by urging President Tinubu to reflect on past political experiences and not rely solely on political endorsements, warning that popular support must be earned, not assumed. “I pity Mr. President if he thinks such endorsements will secure victory,” he said.
