Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has raised alarm over what he described as a destabilising wave of defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by opposition governors and federal lawmakers.

Ndume, who represents Borno South, issued the warning on Sunday night while delivering his acceptance speech at the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, for the award of the “Most Outstanding Legislature and Advocate of National Unity.”

Speaking shortly after receiving the honour, the former Senate Leader cautioned that the unchecked influx of defectors could tear the ruling party apart.

“I have warned that the APC is becoming overloaded. And when you overload a ship, especially with mostly empty cargo, it risks capsizing,” he said. “If it capsizes, the owner of the ship will face a bigger problem. That is the situation we find ourselves in today.”

Ndume insisted that contrary to public assumptions, neither President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nor APC leaders have been lobbying governors or senior figures to dump their parties.

“The PDP is uncomfortable playing the role of opposition,” he stated. “I am not aware of anyone, especially governors or leaders, the president or any of us has gone to persuade to join us. But when your brother is displaced by a crisis in his party and he knocks on your door, will you shut him out? That is what is happening.”

He, however, expressed frustration that many defectors “contribute nothing” once admitted into the APC.

“Some of them join and remain silent, doing nothing, even after the party has been magnanimous enough to allow defecting governors to automatically become leaders in their states,” he said. “It is like an ordinary church member leaving one church for another and immediately wanting to become the pastor in charge. Or someone converting to Islam and insisting on becoming the Imam. Naturally, this creates problems. That is the confusion affecting our political landscape.”

Ndume urged Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration but admitted that weak leadership among ministers and presidential aides was undermining the president’s efforts.

“We must be united behind our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he appealed. “Some may be surprised because I am often critical of the administration. I speak out because I fear people may think we are failing, yet we have a leader who is willing to listen.”

He argued that Nigeria suffers from “a lack of leadership capacity,” not because the president is not leading, but because he is burdened with too much responsibility.

“One person cannot be the captain, the player, the goalkeeper and the striker all at once,” Ndume said. “When one person is left to run the entire field alone, nothing substantial can be achieved.”

He reiterated an earlier comment that earned him public backlash: “I once said, and many accused me of being abusive, that the government is overloaded with kakistocrats and kleptocrats. We must clear them out so we can move forward.”

Earlier, Dame Azikiwe, wife of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, commended the organisers of the annual lecture for sustaining the memory of her husband’s contributions to national unity.

She urged today’s political leaders to emulate the patriotism and selflessness of First Republic statesmen.

“They are long gone, but their legacies live on,” she said, referencing her husband, as well as Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello. “Leaders of the First Republic were selfless—unlike leaders we have now who are bothered about their pockets. I am always happy when people say good things about Zik and what he did.” (The Sun)