Senator Ali Ndume has said internal divisions and personal interests among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pose a greater challenge to the ruling party than opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the opposition might be vocal and resilient, but argued that the APC’s internal contradictions and the struggle for power were more troubling.
The senator spoke on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he backed Vice President Kashim Shettima’s concerns about divisions within the ruling party.
He also criticised what he described as hypocrisy among politicians, accusing some party members of prioritising personal interests over collective goals.
Explaining why he does not wear President Bola Tinubu’s crested cap, Ndume said politicians should not pretend to support individuals when their actions suggest otherwise.
He said, “It’s not that I don’t like Tinubu’s crested cap. You don’t have to fake the liking of somebody. You wear that cap in the afternoon and trample upon it in the night?
“Many of them are doing that. You don’t have to show that you like somebody. It’s within you.”
The lawmaker argued that the APC’s challenge was not necessarily a lack of political support but the conduct of those responsible for promoting the party and its achievements.
“We have a product. The marketers are not honest. Those that are supposed to sell our product are busy caring so much about themselves, not about selling their product,” he said.
Ndume maintained that opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), were not the ruling party’s primary concern.
“I think the Vice President was just blunt. We have more problems within than without because, seeing that the opposition, quite alright, they are both resilient, tough and talking big, but it’s not the major problem,” he said.
He warned that the growing emphasis on personalities rather than ideas and policy discussions could undermine meaningful political engagement.
According to him, politicians across party lines often share similar backgrounds, while their differences are largely shaped by party affiliations and the competition for political power.
“That’s why they talk about personality instead of ideas, instead of events or debates on what to do and how to do it, and that’s dangerous,” Ndume added.
The senator also accused politicians of taking Nigerians for granted, calling for greater attention to policy debates and practical solutions to the country’s challenges.
His remarks followed Shettima’s warning that internal disagreements within the APC posed a greater concern than the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Vice President spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the unveiling of the campaign head office of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition supporting the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. He also inaugurated the group’s campaign structure.
Shettima said he was more concerned about divisions within the ruling party than the political strength of its opponents.
“Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household,” he said.
He stressed that unity among APC members would be essential to the party’s efforts ahead of the next elections.
“If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer,” the Vice President added.
Shettima also cautioned northern political leaders against supporting Tinubu’s presidential campaign while working against APC governors seeking re-election or pursuing other state-level electoral contests.
“There is no point in championing the cause of the presidential election and then undermining the governor in the gubernatorial election. Honestly, it will not go down well with the system,” he said.