Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) has publicly aligned himself with Vice President Kashim Shettima regarding the state of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the party faces far greater peril from internal factionalism and superficial loyalty than from any opposition political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a featured interview on Arise News on Tuesday morning, October 20, 2026, Ndume urged the ruling party leadership to focus on resolving its internal friction rather than obsessing over external political threats.
During his television appearance, Senator Ndume argued that Nigerian political parties share remarkably similar ideological backgrounds, meaning political rivalry often degenerates into personal rivalries rather than robust debates on governance.
”That’s why they talk about personality instead of ideas, instead of events or debates on what to do and how to do it, and that’s dangerous,” Ndume remarked. “The APC’s biggest problem is internal, not the opposition.”
Ndume further questioned the sincerity of some party members, suggesting that several stakeholders who publicly declare allegiance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu display a markedly different attitude in private. He warned that taking the electorate for granted while failing to deliver substance would harm the party’s electoral fortunes.
Ndume’s statements come directly on the heels of candid comments made by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
On Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2026, VP Shettima addressed party faithful and political stakeholders in Abuja during the official launching of the campaign headquarters for the Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern political coalition backing the Tinubu-Shettima mandate.
At the event, which was also attended by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Shettima cautioned party members against sabotage, infighting, and undermining state governors.
”Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household,” Vice President Shettima stated during his address. “If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer.”
The combined warnings from the Vice President and a principal voice in the Senate highlight growing anxiety within the ruling party over regional alignments, governor-lawmaker rivalries, and internal cohesion. Party analysts note that whether the APC leadership can successfully reconcile aggrieved factions will determine its stability as political activities intensify nationwide.
