Ndume threatens to dump APC over Tinubu’s performance, reveals talks with opposition

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has hinted at a possible defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fails to address the growing challenges facing Nigeria.

Speaking during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television, the outspoken lawmaker expressed deep concern over the country’s deteriorating situation, adding that his continued loyalty to the APC hinges on the president’s ability to deliver meaningful change.

“I’m aware of the opposition coalition. I went to several of their meetings. I still believe this president can fix these things, but failure might cause me to move. The overloaded ship will sink,” Ndume said.

“They have been making overtures, but I told them I don’t want to jump from the frying pan into the fire. I have to be sure.

“I believe that Tinubu can be a successful president; that was my expectation, but if he continues this way, that ship, whether you load in other people or governors, you are just endangering the APC, pushing it towards capsizing,” he said.

“As the president said, there is a vacancy in the ship. But if you overload the ship, it will probably capsize, and if it capsizes, you lose everybody.”

Ndume criticised the motivations behind some defections to the ruling APC, describing them as driven by “indirect stick-and-carrot politics” rather than principles.

“Most people are not joining based on principles but due to the indirect stick-and-carrot politics. And that is not healthy at all,” he added.