The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a response to Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume's recent caution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the wave of early endorsements ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Senator Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, expressed concerns over what he described as premature endorsements for the president during an interview on Channels Television's Politics programme on Sunday night.
"It is too early to start endorsing President Tinubu for 2027. The President should be wary of people who are rushing to pledge loyalty or push endorsements. These things may not be sincere, and they can distract him from focusing on the important work ahead," Ndume stated.
The senator drew parallels to former President Goodluck Jonathan's experience in 2015, noting that despite securing endorsements from 22 governors of the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jonathan ultimately lost his re-election bid to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
APC's Official Response
Contrary to speculation about potential backlash against the senator, the APC has denied issuing any formal warning or disciplinary action against Ndume for his comments.
Bala Ibrahim, the APC's Director of Publicity, emphasized that the party respects Ndume's right to express his opinion, stating that the senator remains a valued member of the party.
"Senator Ndume is a respected member of the APC. He has made comments in the past, some of which were critical of the party, but that doesn't mean he is acting against the APC. This party believes in internal democracy and freedom of expression as long as it does not go against our core principles," Ibrahim told the BBC.
Ibrahim further highlighted that the party encourages constructive criticism from its members, noting that such inputs are essential for strengthening democracy within the party structure.
The exchange comes amid growing discussions about political positioning for the 2027 general elections, with various stakeholders already making early moves despite being just one year into President Tinubu's current term.
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