… May join opposition if Tinubu fail
Senator representing Borno-South and a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has issued a scathing critique of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, warning of a looming political collapse due to unprincipled defections, erosion of legislative independence, and failures in governance.
Speaking during a televised interview on Tuesday, Ndume said the APC is behaving like an “overloaded ship” on the verge of capsizing, as it continues to accept defectors without ideological grounding or long-term strategy. “If you overload the ship, it will probably capsize, and if it capsizes, you lose everybody,” he warned.
While still a member of the APC, Ndume revealed that he has attended meetings of opposition leaders working to form a broad coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the coalition’s emergence was a welcome democratic development, stressing that strong opposition is essential for a healthy democracy – something both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party have failed to provide so far.
Though he has resisted pressure to jump ship, Ndume admitted he may reconsider his position if the president fails to correct the course. “I believe Tinubu can still fix things”, he stated. “But if he continues this way, I will not go down with a sinking ship”.
He also criticised the motivations behind many recent defections to the APC, describing them as driven by “indirect stick-and-carrot politics” rather than conviction. “Jumping ship without ideology or principle weakens our democracy”, he emphasised.
Ndume took particular aim at the current National Assembly, lamenting that it no longer serves as a deliberative body but instead operates as a “rubber-stamp” for executive decisions. He decried the diminishing independence of the legislature and warned of the dangers of unchecked executive power.
On foreign policy and regional security, Ndume faulted Tinubu’s tenure as ECOWAS chairman, arguing that Nigeria missed key diplomatic opportunities in Niger and Burkina Faso. He accused the presidency of sidelining elder statesmen who could have helped mediate regional tensions. “The president remained insulated by his close circle, and now Nigeria is bearing the consequences – renewed insurgency and cross-border violence”, he said.
Despite criticism from some quarters, including a presidential aide who dismissed him as a “frustrated lone wolf,” Ndume stood his ground. “I’m not dependent on anyone”, he said. “I have a duty to my conscience and my country. I will speak out – even if I stand alone”.
Ndume also reiterated his long-standing political loyalty to former Minister Rotimi Amaechi, whom he still considers a capable leader for Nigeria. Defending his own history of party movement, he said his decisions were always guided by circumstance and principle, not opportunism.
