Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, says President Bola Tinubu should be worried if former President Muhammadu Buhari is not on his side.
Ndume spoke during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, aired on Friday night.
He said despite Buhari no longer being in office, his influence in northern Nigeria remains strong.
The senator’s comment comes hours after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led some opposition leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna.
Ndume added that he is also planning a visit to the former president.
“Buhari’s followership has diminished naturally because it is different when you are not in power and after spending, like, eight years in power,” he said.
“Of course, his popularity, everything has diminished; it is natural, but you can’t write him off, especially with the northern masses.
“The followership of Buhari has been occultic. You cannot explain it.
“If Buhari is coming here now, you will see people rushing to see him. Everybody, including those in the vegetable market, will rush here. Buhari is still with the Talakawas.
“Tinubu should be worried if Buhari is not on his side. Every number counts, and Buhari has one vote.
“Tinubu should also be worried about my position. Because I have one vote for him. He does not have a vote for me.”
Recently, there have been concerns over the potential exit of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc from the All Progressive Congress (APC).
In 2013, the CPC was one of the four political parties that came together to form the APC. Buhari belongs to the CPC bloc.
In the middle of the speculations, Buhari said he would never turn his back on the ruling party that gave him the platform to become the country’s president.
2027: Buhari’s followership occultic, be worried if he’s not on your side – Ndume tells Tinubu
By Ochogwu Sunday
Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be worried if his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, is not on his side.
The lawmaker, who has been a major critic of the present administration, made the assertion on Friday during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
The lawmaker, while describing Buhari’s followership, particularly in the North, as occultic, said although the former president has just one vote, he remains an adorable figure.
He said, “Buhari’s followership has diminished naturally because it is different when you are not in power and after spending like eight years in power. Of course, his popularity has diminished, it is natural, but you can’t write him off, especially with the Northern masses. The followership of Buhari has been occultic. You cannot explain it.
“If Buhari is coming here now, you will see people rushing to see him. Everybody, including those in the vegetable market, will rush here. Buhari is still with the Talakawas.
“Tinubu should be worried if Buhari is not on his side. Every number counts, and Buhari has one vote. Tinubu should also be worried about my position. Because I have one vote for him. He does not have a vote for me.”
Ndume’s comment is coming a few hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and key opposition figures visited Buhari at his Kaduna residence.
