Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be concerned about his prospects for re-election in 2027.
He pointed to growing alliances within the opposition and the significant influence of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Northern Nigeria.
Ndume made these remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today, coinciding with a high-profile visit by several opposition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to Buhari at his residence in Kaduna.
These political figures have openly declared their intentions to challenge Tinubu in the upcoming election.
Highlighting Buhari’s enduring appeal in the North, Ndume emphasized that despite being out of office, the former president still commands immense loyalty from grassroots supporters.
He stated that Tinubu should be particularly wary if Buhari does not back him, considering the former president’s symbolic weight and deep-rooted support base.
“Buhari’s influence may have naturally declined since leaving office, but you cannot underestimate his popularity, especially among the common people in the North,” Ndume said.
“If Buhari visits any location, people market traders, ordinary citizens will still rush to see him.”
Ndume, who also intends to visit Buhari soon, described the former leader’s followership as “cult-like” and significant enough to sway electoral outcomes.
He added that while Buhari, like every citizen, has only one vote, the weight of that vote carries symbolic and strategic importance.
“Tinubu should even be concerned about my vote,” Ndume quipped, “because he needs every single one.”
Responding to questions about Buhari’s stance during the 2023 elections, Ndume dismissed claims that the former president didn’t support Tinubu.
He insisted Buhari was quietly supportive, even if he wasn’t publicly active on the campaign trail.
“I know Buhari well. He’s not someone who hides his feelings. If he doesn’t support you, you’ll know. So, while he may not have campaigned openly, he definitely backed Tinubu,” Ndume affirmed.
On speculations that he might defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ndume ruled out any such plans.
However, he acknowledged that internal shifts within the APC, especially if factions like the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc decide to break away, should not be taken lightly, reiterating that every vote could prove decisive.