Senator Ndume Sympathises With Tinubu, Says 22 PDP Govs Endorsed Jonathan, Yet He Lost Re- election
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, NASS, Senator, Ali Ndume, on Sunday, distanced himself from the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
...We are not learning our lessons. I pity Mr President, he said.
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, NASS, Senator, Ali Ndume, on Sunday, distanced himself from the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
He said he pitied President Tinubu noting that endorsement by governors was not a guarantee that he would be re-elected in 2027.
Ndume who has been in the NASS for over 20 years, spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
According to him, former President Goodluck Jonathan secured the endorsement of 22 governors of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 poll yet he lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
On May 22, 2025, 22 APC governors unanimously adopted Tinubu as the APC candidate for the 2027 election.
However, Ndume, a high-ranking APC member, said he did not support the decision of the APC governors as “things are very bad in the country” at the moment; lamenting the harsh economic situation, the skyrocketing cost of living in the country and the insecurity ravaging parts of Nigeria.
According to him, former President Goodluck Jonathan secured the endorsement of 22 governors of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 poll yet he lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
On May 22, 2025, 22 APC governors unanimously adopted Tinubu as the APC candidate for the 2027 election.
However, Ndume, a high-ranking APC member, said he did not support the decision of the APC governors as “things are very bad in the country” at the moment; lamenting the harsh economic situation, the skyrocketing cost of living in the country and the insecurity ravaging parts of Nigeria.
“Nigerians cannot see any hope, they are doubting the Renewed Hope,” he added, pointing out that, he stormed out of the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja when the governors endorsed the president for re-election.
His words, “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.
His words, “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.
“It happened (endorsements) 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."
The six-term federal lawmaker has been in the National Assembly since 2003. He first represented Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State for two terms (from 2003 to 2011) in the House of Representatives. He proceeded to the Senate in 2011 when he was elected to represent Borno South Senatorial District, a seat he has kept to date.
“It happened (endorsements) 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."
The six-term federal lawmaker has been in the National Assembly since 2003. He first represented Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State for two terms (from 2003 to 2011) in the House of Representatives. He proceeded to the Senate in 2011 when he was elected to represent Borno South Senatorial District, a seat he has kept to date.
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