Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy communication, has accused Senator Ali Ndume of plotting to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) and quietly working with the opposition coalition. Bwala claimed during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, pointing to a growing rift between the two political figures.
The allegation follows a series of critical remarks from Ndume about the president’s recent decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State. The senator, who has served in the National Assembly since 1999, questioned the move and said President Tinubu should instead focus on the worsening insecurity and economic instability in the country.
Ndume also drew attention when he remarked that the president should be worried if former President Muhammadu Buhari no longer supports his leadership. That statement came after a public visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders to Buhari in Kaduna. Despite the backlash, Ndume insisted that he still respects President Tinubu and views him as a mentor, although he strongly disagrees with some of his policies.
Bwala, however, dismissed Ndume’s clarification and accused him of longstanding disloyalty. He claimed that Ndume has a history of switching sides for political advantage. According to Bwala, the senator displayed similar behavior during his time with former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after losing internal support.
Bwala alleged that Ndume has already begun secretly working with the opposition while pretending to remain loyal to the APC. He urged APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje to take note of the senator’s actions, accusing Ndume of acting like an insider informant. In Bwala’s words, Ndume’s “spirit and soul are with the coalition; only his body is still in the APC.” He drew a contrast with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who recently left the APC openly and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing El-Rufai’s decision as more honorable.
This comes as several political heavyweights, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir el-Rufai, step up efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election. El-Rufai and some of his allies have already made their move to the SDP, fueling speculation about a broader coalition aimed at challenging President Tinubu’s reelection bid.
The accusations and political maneuverings add to the uncertainty around the APC’s internal unity, raising questions about which key figures will remain loyal to Tinubu’s administration as the race for 2027 gains momentum.
