Senator Ali Ndume has backed Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s warning about internal divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the ruling party faces a greater challenge from its internal disagreements than from opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the struggle for political power and the tendency of politicians to focus on personalities rather than policy ideas were major concerns for the country’s democracy.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, the senator maintained that although opposition parties remained active and determined, the APC’s internal contradictions could pose a more serious threat to its political prospects.
“I think the Vice President was just blunt. We have more problems within than without,” Ndume said, agreeing with Shettima’s assessment of the party’s situation.
He argued that politicians often concentrated on who should occupy political offices rather than presenting clear ideas, debating policies or explaining how they intended to address Nigeria’s challenges.
According to him, the emphasis on personalities instead of practical solutions could weaken political engagement and prevent meaningful discussions about governance.
Ndume also criticised the political class for allegedly taking Nigerians for granted, urging politicians to focus more on policies that would improve the lives of citizens.
Shettima raises concerns over APC divisions
Ndume’s comments followed Shettima’s recent remarks that internal disagreements within the APC worried him more than the strength of opposition parties.
The Vice-President spoke in Abuja during the unveiling of the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition supporting President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party’s political project ahead of the 2027 elections.
Shettima said he was less concerned about the Peoples Democratic Party and the political standing of former presidential candidate Peter Obi than he was about divisions within his own party.
He stressed that unity among APC members would be essential if the party hoped to retain its political advantage.
The Vice-President also cautioned northern political leaders against supporting Tinubu’s presidential re-election campaign while working against APC governors and other party candidates contesting elections in their respective states.
He urged party members to rally behind the President, state governors and National Assembly members, warning that conflicting political interests could undermine the party’s broader objectives.
Ndume calls for issue-based politics
In backing Shettima’s position, Ndume suggested that Nigeria’s political environment needed a stronger focus on ideas, public policy and governance rather than personal rivalries and the pursuit of political offices.
He argued that politicians across different parties often shared similar backgrounds, with many of their disagreements arising from their political affiliations and competition for power.
The senator warned that such an approach could be dangerous if political debates continued to revolve around individuals rather than the solutions they proposed for the country.
His remarks come as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with questions surrounding party unity, alliances and candidate selection expected to shape the campaign period.
For the APC, the comments highlight the importance of managing disagreements among party leaders and ensuring that competing interests do not undermine its electoral ambitions.
Ndume’s intervention also adds to the growing debate about whether political parties can maintain internal cohesion while presenting credible programmes to voters facing economic hardship and other national challenges.
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