While the All Progressives Congress (APC) basks in the glow of a unanimous endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, one senior party figure is calling for a reality check.
Senator Ali Ndume, a ranking APC lawmaker known for his blunt honesty, has publicly rejected the May 22 endorsement of Tinubu by 22 APC governors, questioning both its timing and its relevance to the mood of the nation.
In an interview on Channels Television, Ndume revealed that he walked out of the gathering at the Presidential Villa once it became clear that the meeting had turned from policy to politics. “I didn’t go there for an endorsement,” he said. “When it became obvious what it was, I left.”
Ndume’s quiet exit speaks volumes. As the party drums up early support for Tinubu 2027, the senator is urging his colleagues to listen more carefully to the people they represent. “Things are very bad in the country,” he warned. “We can’t pretend everything is fine because we’re in power.”
His reference to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s failed 2015 re-election bid—despite backing from 22 governors—served as a cautionary tale. “History is repeating itself. Political support doesn’t always equal public support,” Ndume said.
More than just a protest, Ndume’s stand could be interpreted as a challenge to groupthink within the APC and a call for internal accountability. With voters increasingly vocal about hardship and insecurity, his words may resonate beyond party lines.
In a system where conformity is often rewarded, Ndume’s dissent stands out—not just as political strategy, but perhaps as a rare act of political conscience.