2027: ‘Voters Aren’t Decamping’, Senator Ndume Rejects Tinubu’s 2027 Endorsement
Senator Ali Ndume, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has distanced himself from the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 general election.
Ndume said that Tinubu’s political endorsements do not necessarily translate to electoral support from the Nigerian electorates.
His comments come less than three weeks after 22 APC governors unanimously endorsed Tinubu’s second-term bid at a gathering held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on May 22.
The senator, during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, said he was present at the event but walked out once it became clear the gathering was about endorsing Tinubu.
Ndume claims that Tinubu’s support is out of step with the country’s current situation and that he did not agree with the APC governors’ decision because “things are very bad in the country” at the moment.
“I was there, but that was not why I was there; I was there for a summit and when I realised that it was not a summit and voice vote was put about the endorsement of Mr President, I just left, and that does not mean I am not an APC member. The majority had its way but few of us felt that was not right,” Ndume said.
Ndume said the move reminded him of a similar endorsement in 2015, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan was backed by 22 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but still lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
He also noted that while politicians may switch allegiances, the electorate remains largely independent, saying, “It happened before, not once, not twice. It happened during Jonathan. That does not mean anything. Politicians are decamping but the people who are the voters are not decamping.
“I hope that he would look back historically and see that the gathering of people to endorse you does not mean anything.
“Jonathan had 22 governors then endorsing him, like was done now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully. A lot of money was spent. Even the election was shifted but we are not learning our lessons. I pity Mr President.”
