Senator representing Borno South and a former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, in a blistering critique of his own party, has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in danger of political implosion due to unprincipled defections and what he described as an increasingly dysfunctional administration.

In an interview with ARISE on Tuesday, Though still a card-carrying APC member, Ndume expressed deep dissatisfaction with the party’s trajectory under President Bola Tinubu.

Ndume acknowledged the emergence of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections and called it a necessary democratic development. According to him, true democracy cannot exist without a strong opposition, something he says both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party have failed to offer meaningfully. He criticised the growing trend of politicians defecting solely for political survival, arguing that such actions strip the process of credibility and principle.

“Jumping ship without ideology or conviction weakens our democracy and endangers the future of the country,” he said, warning that the APC itself may soon capsize under the weight of opportunistic entrants. He likened the party to an overloaded ship destined to sink if it continues to accept defectors without discernment or strategy.

Despite repeated invitations to join the emerging opposition coalition, Ndume insisted he remains with the APC at least for now. He made it clear that his loyalty to the party is conditional on whether it corrects its course.

“I still believe this president has the capacity to fix things,” he said, “but if nothing changes, I will have to reconsider. I will not go down with a sinking ship.”

While defending his own political history, Ndume explained his movement between parties over the years as circumstantial rather than opportunistic, emphasising his loyalty to those he believes in. He reaffirmed his longstanding support for former Minister Rotimi Amaechi, who he believes still holds the qualities to lead Nigeria effectively.
Ndume also offered a candid assessment of the current National Assembly, lamenting that it no longer functions as a deliberative body.

Instead, he said, it has become a rubber-stamp institution for executive decisions. He decried the erosion of legislative independence and warned that the lack of checks and balances could ultimately destabilise governance.

Turning to the state of security, particularly in his home state of Borno and the wider Sahel region, Ndume criticized President Tinubu’s handling of regional diplomacy during his tenure as ECOWAS chairman. He said the administration missed critical opportunities to resolve tensions in countries like Niger and Burkina Faso, which have since withdrawn from ECOWAS. The fallout, according to him, is worsening security in Nigeria’s border states as militant groups exploit regional instability.

“Rather than using Nigeria’s elder statesmen for diplomacy, the President remained insulated by his close circle, weakening our leadership role in West Africa,” Ndeme said, adding that Nigeria is now bearing the consequences in the form of renewed insurgency and cross-border violence.
He concluded by reaffirming his mission, to speak the truth, regardless of personal cost.

Dismissing a recent presidential aide’s attempt to belittle him as a “frustrated lone wolf,” the senator responded defiantly, “I’m not a dependent of anyone. I have a duty to my conscience and my country and I will speak out, even if I stand alone.”

Erizia Rubyjeana

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