Senator Ali Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against ignoring rising public discontent, warning that he could face a fate similar to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 electoral loss if urgent steps are not taken.
Ndume issued the warning during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Sunday, where he drew parallels between current political developments and the circumstances that led to Jonathan’s defeat.
“Tinubu could be given the Jonathan treatment because Jonathan also had 22 governors who endorsed him, like we did now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully,” the senator said.
In 2015, Jonathan, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite significant support from governors and political stakeholders.
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Buhari secured over 15.4 million votes to Jonathan’s 12.8 million.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, stressed that mass endorsements within the APC should not be mistaken for electoral certainty.
According to him, widespread economic hardship and a disconnection from grassroots realities could jeopardise Tinubu’s re-election chances.
“We are not learning our lesson,” he said, pointing to a pattern of overconfidence within the ruling party.
“I pity Mr. President. Even though he once said this is not the time for campaigns, look around, the campaigning has already started under the guise of endorsements.”
The senator also expressed concern over internal party dynamics, especially regarding reports of potential automatic tickets for incumbent lawmakers, warning that such moves could alienate party loyalists.
“When the rumour came that National Assembly members might get automatic tickets, the party denied it. So, who will be the foot soldiers? You cannot rely on governors alone,” he said.
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Ndume urged President Tinubu to focus on implementing “people-centred policies” that address pressing issues and alleviate the burden on Nigerians.
“There’s still time to turn things around,” he said.
“If in the next two years, the president can make Nigerians happy, really happy, then nobody will contest against him.”
Beyond electoral strategy, Ndume also launched a scathing critique of the president’s inner circle, accusing some presidential aides of misinforming Tinubu and damaging his public image.
“My position is that the people who are supposed to help him are the ones deceiving him or damaging his image,” Ndume declared. “I see people lying and telling the president what he wants to hear.”
He added, “They are unrealistic people. I still believe the government is more or less dominated by kleptocrats and even kakistocrats.”
Clarifying the terms, Ndume said, “Kakistocrats are people holding positions they are not supposed to be in, while kleptocrats are those in politics for personal gain, not public service.”
Read also: Ndume denies endorsing Tinubu for second term
The senator, while stopping short of naming names, decried what he described as a widening gap between the presidency and ordinary Nigerians, exacerbated by what he called a lack of honest feedback within the administration.
“The president cannot go out to the streets like I do and know how the people feel,” he said. “Even outside the villa, they would drive him in tinted glass so he doesn’t even see what is going on. People are not happy.”
He urged the president to listen more to lawmakers and local representatives who have direct access to public sentiment.
“Intelligence should come from those who are close to the ground. Things are very bad in the country,” Ndume noted.
