Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has signalled the possibility of leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu fails to address Nigeria’s growing challenges.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV on Tuesday, June 24, Ndume, an influential lawmaker and former Senate Chief Whip openly acknowledged his involvement in meetings with opposition coalitions planning to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. While expressing continued hope in the president’s ability to deliver on his mandate, he warned that persistent failure could force him to abandon the APC.
“I’m aware of the opposition coalition. I went to several of their meetings. I still believe this president can fix these things, but failure might cause me to move. The overloaded ship will sink,” Ndume said.
He also criticised the administration’s direction and likened the APC to a dangerously burdened vessel. “I believe that Tinubu can be a successful president; that was my expectation, but if he continues this way, that ship, whether you load in other people or governors, you are just endangering the APC by pushing it towards capsizing.
“As the president said, there is a vacancy in the ship. But if you overload the ship, it will probably capsize, and if it capsizes, you lose everybody,” he warned.
Ndume took aim at recent political defections into the APC, questioning their motives and describing the movement as being driven by pressure and political incentives rather than principle.
“Most people are not joining based on principles but due to the indirect stick-and-carrot politics. And that is not healthy at all,” he said.
Despite his criticisms, the senator maintained that he had not yet made a definitive decision to leave the party, emphasizing the need for thoughtful consideration. “They have been making overtures, but I told them I don’t want to jump from the frying pan into the fire. I have to be sure,” he said.
In conclusion, Ndume noted that reforming the APC from within remains his preference, saying, “I feel when you build a house and it’s leaking you don’t leave the house, you stay to fix it.”
