…Denies endorsing his 2027 re-election bid
Senator representing Borno-South in the 10th Senate, Ali Ndume, has launched a fresh wave of criticism against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of being hijacked by self-serving individuals, while also distancing himself from recent endorsements of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Speaking on a television programme on Sunday, Ndume alleged that the current administration is dominated by “kleptocrats” and “kakistocrats” – terms he used to describe individuals driven by personal gain and those unfit for office. According to him, President Tinubu is being misled by aides who shield him from the harsh realities faced by everyday Nigerians.
“I see people lying and telling the President what he wants to hear,” Ndume said. “The people who are supposed to help him are the ones deceiving him, or damaging his image. They have effectively kidnapped the presidency”.
According to Ndume, the President is disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians, and lacks direct contact with public sentiment. “Even outside the Villa, they would drive him in tinted glass; so, he doesn’t even see what is going on”, he added.
The Senator, a long-time member of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), has been increasingly vocal in his discontent with Tinubu’s governance. He previously faulted the President’s appointments for allegedly failing to respect the federal character principle, and has maintained his stance despite pushback from what he described as ‘Tinubu boys’.
In a related development, Ndume also clarified his presence at the recent APC governors’ endorsement of President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. He denied supporting the re-election move, saying he was at the Presidential Villa for a different event when the endorsement took place.
“I was there; but that was not why I was there”, he explained. “When I realised that it was not a summit, and a voice vote was put about the endorsement of Mr. President, I just left. That does not mean I am not an APC member. The majority had its way, but a few of us felt that was not right”.
Ndume warned that political endorsements by party insiders do not translate to electoral victory, citing the 2015 general election as a cautionary tale. “Jonathan had 22 state governors endorsing him then, and he lost woefully. I hope Mr. President remembers that history”, he said.
He expressed concern that despite the administration’s “Renewed Hope” mantra, Nigerians remain skeptical. “Things are very bad in the country. Nigerians cannot see any hope; they are doubting the ‘Renewed Hope’ ”, he remarked.
Ndume urged the President to pay more attention to lawmakers and public servants with grassroots access, stressing that valuable intelligence often comes from those closest to the ground.
“It is the people like us who represent the public that should be listened to. Intelligence should come from those who are close to the ground. Things are very bad in the country”, he warned.
