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Senator Ali Ndume has issued a strong warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to be concerned if former President Muhammadu Buhari is not firmly on his side politically.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, monitored by POLITICS DIGEST, Ndume stressed that while Buhari now holds just one vote like every other citizen, his influence, especially in Northern Nigeria, remains significant.
“Buhari’s followership may have naturally waned after leaving office—he’s no longer the sitting president—but his popularity among the Northern masses remains intact,” Ndume said.
“You can’t just write him off. The loyalty he commands is almost cult-like.”
He added that Buhari still holds sway with the grassroots, saying, “If Buhari shows up somewhere, even people from the local market will rush to see him. He’s still with the Talakawas.”
The senator further emphasized the political weight every vote carries, stating, “Tinubu should be worried if Buhari isn’t with him. Every number counts. Buhari has one vote, and so do I. Tinubu should also be concerned about whether he has my vote—because I know he doesn’t, not automatically.”
His remarks come just days after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation of opposition figures to Buhari’s Kaduna residence.
The visit has stirred speculation, particularly amid fears of internal fractures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Meridian Spy reports that there’s growing concern over a possible exit of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc from the APC—a bloc widely associated with Buhari. The concerns intensified following a private meeting in Kaduna between Buhari and several APC governors, who reportedly sought his help in preventing further defections from the party.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of several notable exits from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai led the charge, publicly announcing his defection after allegedly securing Buhari’s blessing.
Reports also indicate that multiple former ministers under Buhari are preparing to join the SDP, and in Buhari’s home state of Katsina, the defections have already begun at the grassroots level.
The CPC, originally founded in 2009 and merged into the APC in 2013 alongside other major parties, remains a key influence within the ruling party. Buhari continues to be seen as the ideological and symbolic leader of the CPC bloc.
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the APC faces mounting pressure to preserve party unity—especially as powerful factions weigh their future within the party.
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