On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, warned during an interview on Arise Television that he may abandon the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu fails to address Nigeria’s pressing issues. Ndume, who has recently criticized Tinubu’s administration, revealed he has attended meetings with opposition coalitions aiming to unseat Tinubu in 2027, stating, “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.” He expressed caution about joining the opposition, noting, “I don’t want to jump from the frying pan into the fire. I have to be sure,” but emphasized that persistent failures could push him to defect, warning that overloading the APC with defectors risks “capsizing” the party.
Ndume, a former Senate Chief Whip, criticized recent defections to the APC, including those from the PDP and NNPP, as driven by “indirect stick-and-carrot politics” rather than principle, calling it unhealthy for the party. He likened the APC to a leaking house, stating, “I feel when you build a house and it’s leaking you don’t leave the house, you stay to fix it,” but underscored that his loyalty hinges on Tinubu’s ability to tackle challenges like insecurity (2,500 terrorism deaths in Q1 2025, ACLED) and economic hardship (33.9% inflation, NBS April 2025). Ndume’s comments follow his revelation of a rift between Tinubu and Rotimi Amaechi, fueled by a failed post-2023 primary meeting, indicating internal APC tensions. Posts on X, like @SaharaReporters, amplify Ndume’s coalition talks, while @Naija_PR notes public support for his candor, though @BashirAhmaad defends Tinubu’s reforms. Ndume’s threat, backed by his influence in Borno (1.2 million votes in 2023, INEC), signals potential realignments as 2027 approaches.
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