Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district at the National Assembly, has given reasons why he did not partake in the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.
Ndume, who stated this on Sunday, June8, 2025, when he featured on Channels Television programme; ‘Sunday Politics’, said he refused to participate in the funny decision of the governors and other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on May 22, 2025, because he knows that such contrived endorsements do not translate into actual election.
He also said that he refused to be part of the charade because of his conscience, stressing that “things are very bad in the country” at the moment and no one should try to colour it.
The Borno South Senator said that only politicians are decamping while the people who are the voters are not decamping and therefore expressed surprised that most of those that endorsed President Tinubu at the All Progressives Congress (APC), mid-term summit which held at the Presidential Villa, are not good students of political history particularly with regards to endorsement in Nigeria.
Ndume noted that former President Goodluck Jonathan secured the endorsement of 22 governors of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 poll, yet he lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
The lawmaker pointedly said that things are not looking good for the citizens, and Nigerians are not seeing any hope, stressing that despite the defections to the APC, the voters appear dissatisfied with the Tinubu government as only politicians are singing a different tune.
Ndume said; “I was initially at the APC summit, where President Tinubu was endorsed by party members, but when I saw that the purpose of the gathering was to endorse Tinubu for a second term, I immediately left the venue in disagreement.
“Party endorsement is not a guarantee for winning elections. 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).
“Things are very bad in the country at the moment and “Nigerians cannot see any hope. They are in fact doubting the Renewed Hope,” he stated.
Ndume further said that he and a few others did not agree with the second term endorsement for Tinubu, thus stressed that the endorsement of people does not mean anything during election.
He further said; “I pity President Tinubu if he wants to rely on such endorsements as guarantees for electoral victory.
“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 left, and that does not mean I am not an APC member.
“The majority had their way but few of us felt that was not right. It happened 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,” Ndume stated.
