Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and a former Senate Chief Whip, has urged President Bola Tinubu not to be misled by early endorsements for the 2027 election, warning that they do not guarantee electoral success.
Speaking on a national television programme, Sunday Politics, Ndume cautioned that Tinubu could face a similar fate as former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was backed by 22 governors in 2015 but still lost the election.
“I was at the Villa for a summit, not for the endorsement. When I realized what was happening, I left. Majority had their way, but that doesn’t mean we all agreed,” Ndume clarified, distancing himself from the group that recently declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Ndume criticized the atmosphere surrounding the presidency, describing it as dominated by “sycophants, kleptocrats, and kakistocrats” — people who either manipulate power for personal gain or occupy roles beyond their competence.
“The President is surrounded by people who deceive him and damage his credibility. He’s isolated from real public sentiment,” Ndume asserted.
He lamented that economic hardship, rising poverty, and worsening insecurity continue to plague Nigerians, two years into Tinubu’s administration. Ndume warned that the public frustration could lead to political consequences if urgent, people-focused reforms are not implemented.
“This happened before — endorsements, money spent, elections shifted — yet the people voted differently. We’re not learning,” he stated, referencing the 2015 defeat of Jonathan.
Despite his criticism, Ndume offered hope, saying there’s still time for Tinubu to turn things around: “If the right decisions are made now, things can improve within a year. Nigerians want real relief, not political drama.”
He concluded by urging the president to ignore political bootlickers and instead focus on genuine reforms that uplift citizens.
