Daniel Bwala, special adviser on policy communication to President Bola Tinubu, has raised concerns about Senator Ali Ndume’s allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the Borno South lawmaker has already aligned with opposition forces.
“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 said on Channels Television on Sunday.
“It is better the way (Nasir) el-Rufai did: just say I am leaving. You’d give more honour and credit to el-Rufai that he didn’t feel he could stay and be a snitch,” he added, according to BusinessDay.
Bwala’s comments follow recent criticisms by Ndume, a ranking member of the National Assembly since 1999. On Friday, Ndume publicly opposed Tinubu’s declaration of emergency in Rivers State, arguing instead that such a measure should be declared on Nigeria’s worsening security and economic situations.
Ndume also suggested that Tinubu should be concerned about his relationship with former President Muhammadu Buhari, especially after opposition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, paid Buhari a visit in Kaduna.
Political tension continues to mount ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures intensifying efforts to unseat Tinubu.
In March, opposition leaders, including Atiku, Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai, unveiled a coalition aimed at challenging the current administration, which has been widely criticised for soaring inflation and a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
Meanwhile, internal crises within the PDP and Labour Party, coupled with discontent among some APC members, appear to be bolstering the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai and several of his allies have already defected to the SDP, while speculation continues over possible moves by Atiku and Obi to join the party. Neither has made an official announcement regarding such plans.
