Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District since 2011, has accused some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of hypocrisy, alleging that they pretend to support President Bola Tinubu while acting against his interests.
Ndume made the remarks while discussing the challenges facing the ruling party, arguing that its internal problems could pose a greater threat than opposition parties.
The lawmaker also explained why he does not wear Tinubu’s signature cap, suggesting that some politicians who publicly identify with the President may not genuinely support him.
According to Ndume, some politicians wear the President’s cap during the day but act contrary to the values it represents at night.
“You wear that cap in the afternoon and you trample and step on it in the night. Many of them are doing that, but you don’t have to show that you like somebody. It’s within you, you know,” he said.
The senator expressed concern that politicians were taking Nigerians for granted by concentrating on personalities and the struggle for power rather than engaging in meaningful discussions about ideas, policies and governance.
“We have more problems within than without,” Ndume said, suggesting that the APC’s internal challenges were more significant than the opposition’s activities.
He argued that politicians across party lines were largely similar, with political platforms often serving as vehicles for the pursuit of power rather than representing clearly different ideas.
“APC is just a name. It’s like I am Mohammed, or somebody is Joseph, and the other person calls him Isa. We are all the same,” he said.
Ndume warned that the political class risked losing the confidence of Nigerians if politicians continued to prioritise personal interests over the concerns of the public.
He also suggested that the APC could suffer significant consequences from its internal divisions, cautioning that the political establishment as a whole could become the biggest loser if public trust continued to decline.
Asked whether the APC could manage its internal challenges without weakening its chances at the ballot box, Ndume said he shared concerns about the party’s situation and indicated that the warning raised by Vice-President Kashim Shettima reflected similar fears.
The senator’s remarks highlight concerns about party unity and the potential impact of internal disagreements on the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
