Senator Ali Ndume has said internal divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) pose a greater challenge to the ruling party than opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The lawmaker representing Borno South made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, October 19.
Ndume was reacting to concerns raised by Vice-President Kashim Shettima about the ruling party’s internal challenges. He agreed with Shettima’s assessment, saying the APC had more problems within its ranks than outside. According to the senator, opposition parties might be vocal and resilient, but their activities were not the party’s most pressing 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,” Ndume said.
The senator argued that Nigerian politics had become too focused on personalities and the struggle for political power rather than ideas, public debates and practical solutions. He said politicians across party lines often shared similar backgrounds, with their differences largely shaped by party affiliations and competition for power. He warned that this approach could undermine meaningful political engagement and distract leaders from addressing the country’s challenges.
Ndume also questioned the commitment of some APC members who publicly profess loyalty to President Bola Tinubu but, in his view, act differently behind the scenes. Using an analogy, he said: “You wear that cap in the afternoon, and you trample or you step on it in the night.” He further criticised the party’s communication efforts, arguing that those responsible for promoting its record appeared more focused on themselves than on explaining its policies and achievements to Nigerians.
