Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has firmly distanced himself from the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid by 22 governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling the move premature and disconnected from the country’s pressing realities.
Appearing on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, the veteran lawmaker—who has spent over 20 years in the National Assembly—criticized the endorsement, saying it was orchestrated under false pretenses.
“I was told it was a summit. But when I got there, I heard a voice vote endorsing the president for re-election. That wasn’t the purpose of the gathering, and I had to walk out,” Ndume explained.
Ndume, a prominent member of the ruling party, described the process as lacking transparency and sincerity. He said it was inappropriate for the party to focus on re-election politics while Nigerians grapple with worsening economic hardship, inflation, and insecurity.
“People are losing hope. They are questioning the Renewed Hope agenda,” he said, highlighting the disconnect between party politics and the lived experiences of citizens.
The senator also drew parallels with the 2015 presidential election, recalling how former President Goodluck Jonathan was endorsed by 22 PDP governors but still lost to Muhammadu Buhari. “Endorsements don’t guarantee victory. Jonathan had 22 governors behind him and still lost. We’re not learning from history,” Ndume warned.
The endorsement took place at the Presidential Villa on May 22, 2025, during a meeting that many believed was convened for national policy discussions. Ndume insisted he was misled and that the surprise endorsement was politically staged.
Despite distancing himself from the endorsement, Ndume reiterated his loyalty to the APC but emphasized that not every member supported the governors’ decision. “The majority may have their way, but some of us believe it was wrong,” he concluded.
Having served in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011 and in the Senate since then, Ndume remains one of Nigeria’s longest-serving and most influential legislators.
