ABUJA, Nigeria – Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming that Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South is already aligning with the opposition despite remaining in the ruling party.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Bwala alleged that Ndume’s “spirit and soul” were with the opposition, and that it was only his physical presence in the APC that remained.
“Let me tell you today and I want everybody to hear, especially the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje. Senator Ali Ndume’s spirit and soul are with the coalition; it is his body that is in APC. He is already going,” Bwala asserted, further stating that it would be more honourable for Ndume to leave the party outright, similar to the way former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai did.
Bwala suggested that el-Rufai earned respect for openly declaring his departure, unlike Ndume, whom he implied was playing both sides.
Ndume, a long-serving lawmaker and influential figure in the National Assembly, has recently criticized President Tinubu’s administration, particularly the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
On Friday, April 11, 2025, the senator called on the president to focus on declaring an emergency in areas like security and the economy instead.
He also made a pointed comment about the importance of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s support, suggesting that Tinubu should be concerned if Buhari was not on his side.
This statement came shortly after a visit by opposition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to Buhari in Kaduna on April 11, 2025.
Ndume’s remarks align with the broader opposition’s growing momentum, with talks about a potential inter-party alliance reaching a peak in March 2025.
The coalition draws strength from the combined votes of Atiku and Obi in the 2023 election, where they garnered over 12 million votes, outpacing Tinubu’s total of just over 8 million.
This new opposition coalition is leveraging discontent with Tinubu’s administration, which has been heavily criticized for economic mismanagement, high inflation, and the soaring cost of living.
Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has become a more attractive option for many politicians across the three major parties—PDP, APC, and LP—who are frustrated by internal conflicts and leadership crises.
El-Rufai and some of his supporters have already joined the SDP, and there are reports that Atiku and Obi might follow suit, although neither has confirmed such a move publicly.
