Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has washed his hands off All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, saying Nigerians had lost faith in the current regime.
“Things are very bad in the country; Nigerians cannot see any hope; they are doubting the Renewed Hope,” Ndume said.
An avowed critic of Tinubu, Ndume spoke in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
He cautioned the President on being endorsed by APC governors.
According to Ndume, similar moves had been made ahead of the 2015 elections when 22 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) declared their support for then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Despite securing the 22 PDP governors’ vote of confidence, Ndume recalled, Jonathan lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition APC.
Ndume was speaking against the background of last month, when 22 APC governors adopted Tinubu as the party’s candidate for the 2027 elections.
Speaking further on Tinubu’s endorsement, the lawmaker said he did not support the decision of the APC governors, despite being at the Presidential Villa when the President was endorsed.
He said: “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 a 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 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. Advertisement
“A lot of money was spent. Even the election was shifted, but we are not learning our lessons. I pity Mr President.”
