News
Ndume explodes again! I see doom for Tinubu in 2027, over poor performance
To Muhammed Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, nothing will save President Bola Tinubu’s ambition to win a re-election in 2027, outside a sharp departure from his current underwhelming performance in office, which has plunged Nigeria into poverty and untold hardship never experienced in its history.
Ndume, who was removed as Chief Whip of the Senate in 2024 for a similar comment after he described his then one-year-old administration as a government of khakistocracy and kleptocracy, dismissed all those egging the President on as noisemakers talking nonsense, adding that the solution in Tinubu’s second term rested with hearing the cries of Nigerians.
A guest of Prime Time, a public affairs programme on ARISE NEWAS, on Tuesday, the Senator, not only accused the President of running a nepotistic government, signposted by filling political offices with 70 appointees from South West, but leaving Nigeria in the worst form of hunger and deprivation.
Regretting that the situation would have been mitigated if only those the President were appointing were performers, Ndume, who argued that concentrating such recruitment in one area offended the Nigerian constitution maintained that the dismal outing in every department of Tinubu’s government, would ruin his ambition.
Hear him: “I support the President getting even an expatriate to occupy certain positions, as long as it doesn’t infract on the constitution. But what he is doing infracts on the constitution. And worst of it, so far, majority of those given the responsibilities are not discharging them. Yes, I question their competence and I did before and I still stand by it. Because we’ve gotten to where there is no ray of hope under the leadership of those appointees.
“All we hear is, endure, it will be okay, it will be okay and it is two years. And now, the main purpose of government is clearly stated in section 14, security and welfare of citizens and of course other things that follow in section 14 of our constitution. We’re far from most of them, especially security and welfare of citizens. There is no amount of the hullaballoo that they are doing out there that if the President doesn’t do something that will make Nigerians feel and see and not just hear these figures churning out.
“No! There is this Hausa saying that if you tell a dog that there is party in the house, it will tell you let me see it and let me see it means getting some bones or meat. But when you say that things are okay and Nigerians are still out there yearning that things are tough – you yourself know that things are tough.
“You can see that Nigeria’s security challenge is still there. When it goes down a little bit it goes up again. As I said, the main purpose of government is security. Whatever you do in this country, it comes first.”
Bemoaning the escalation of terrorist activities across the country, Ndume, who emphasised the security and welfare of Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution as the bulwark of governance in Nigeria, said contrary to claims in certain quarters, Nigeria had not defeated the phenomenon.
Reiterating his prediction of doomsday for Tinubu in 2027, he said: “I hear them talking about 2027 all the time. But for me, I’m talking about today. I’m 65. I thank God for my life. All these people shouting about 2027 they don’t believe in God, because 2027 two years ahead and you don’t know if Ndume is going to be alive then or even the President. They’re busy shouting about 2027.
“We’ve just finished with the mandate. We’re just two years. In fact until next month, the President is just two years old and you’re talking about 2027. By the time the President is performing very well and Nigerians are happy, nobody will start talking about competing with Mr. President. It will be automatic.
“But as it is now, they keep on talking nonsense, as far as I’m concerned. Because, three things will determine whether this government is going to succeed or nor. One, security, two, welfare of the citizens and three that is related to the welfare is the economy itself. If it is not performing, then you can go and be talking nonsense, you cannot work.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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