Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has accused Senator Ali Ndume of secretly aligning with the opposition coalition led by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Bwala made these claims during a television appearance, advising the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be wary of Ndume.
Bwala stated that Ndume's "spirit and soul are with the coalition," suggesting he is only physically present in the APC. He contrasted Ndume's alleged behavior with that of Nasir el-Rufai, who openly left the APC.
Bwala's comments follow Ndume's criticism of President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Ndume suggested the President should focus on addressing security and economic issues instead. He also stated Tinubu should be concerned if former President Muhammadu Buhari is not on his side, shortly after Atiku Abubakar led opposition leaders to visit Buhari.
Talks of an inter-party alliance intensified in March 2025, with Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai reportedly forming a coalition to challenge Tinubu's administration in 2027, citing concerns over economic mismanagement. The coalition aims to combine the votes secured by Atiku and Obi in the previous election, which totaled over 12 million.
Amidst internal conflicts within the PDP and Labour Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has emerged as a potential platform for the coalition. El-Rufai and his supporters have already joined the SDP, while Atiku and Obi are rumored to be considering similar moves.