Veteran lawmaker and Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has voiced his strong disapproval of the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by 22 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, warning that history may repeat itself as it did with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ndume, who spoke today during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, distanced himself from the endorsement move, saying it does not reflect the true situation in Nigeria today.
According to him, the country is going through one of its worst moments, with citizens grappling with a harsh economy, rising cost of living, and widespread insecurity.
“I pity Mr President,” Ndume said. “Nigerians are not seeing hope. They are beginning to doubt the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.”
The senator revealed that he stormed out of the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja during the May 22 event, where the governors publicly adopted Tinubu as the APC’s flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.
Ndume said he was initially invited for a summit, not an endorsement ceremony.
He cautioned APC leaders not to misinterpret endorsements as automatic victory, pointing to the 2015 election when former President Jonathan lost despite being backed by 22 governors of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Endorsements don’t win elections. Politicians may decamp, but the real voters don’t,” Ndume said. “Jonathan was endorsed, money was spent, the election was even postponed, yet he lost. We are not learning our lessons.”
Despite his criticism, Ndume affirmed his loyalty to the APC but emphasized that blind endorsements, especially during difficult times, could backfire.
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