Senator Ali Ndume don reveal say na three people persuade am to remain for the 2027 Senate race. E name dem as President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum. Dis one na the story wey e yarn for public, and e don make people begin talk say presidency really value am.
Ndume na the senator wey dey represent Borno South, and e don hold dat seat since 2011. Before dat time, e serve two terms for House of Representatives from 2003. If e win for 2027, e go don record im tenth general election, and e go be im fifth consecutive term for Senate. Dis one no be small achievement for any politician for Nigeria.
Im APC ticket don already secure, and im main challenger, Abdullahi Askira, don withdraw from the race after internal party consultation. Plus, im constituents don mobilise N38.5 million to buy di expression of interest and nomination forms for am. So e get strong support from im base.
Wetin make dis story sweet pass na di history between Ndume and dis administration. For July 2024, APC don strip am of im position as Senate Chief Whip, because e talk say Tinubu government dey “caged” and e no dey feel di daily hunger wey ordinary Nigerians dey face. Dem replace am with Senator Tahir Monguno. But Ndume no bin leave di party, e don dey consistently warn the Senate make e no become rubber stamp for executive bills.
Ndume don always talk say e dey stay for APC because e believe for speaking truth from inside, instead of exiting to make noise from outside. Dis one na im own philosophy. And now, di fact say Tinubu, di First Lady, and Zulum don intervene for im decision to run again, e dey show say di presidency see value for that kind position.
A vocal critic wey remain loyal na better thing for di ruling party. E dey provide internal legitimacy, e dey manage discontent from within, and e dey give di party a credible voice of dissent wey dem fit point to when people accuse dem of suppressing debate. For Ndume, di encouragement to stay na validation. For APC, keeping am na strategy.
