Senate Is Where Elders Are Supposed To Represent The People;72% Senators in The US Are Over 60-Ndume

Senator Ali Ndume has defended his bid for re-election to represent Borno South Senatorial District, arguing that age and experience remain important qualities for lawmakers, particularly those serving in the Senate.

According to a video published by Arise News on Monday, October 19, 2026, Ndume made the remarks during an interview in which he was questioned about his long stay in the National Assembly and whether it was time for a younger generation of politicians to take over.

The interviewer noted that Ndume had been in the National Assembly since 2003, when he began serving in the House of Representatives, before moving to the Senate in 2011.

The presenter then asked what message he had for constituents who might believe that a change in leadership was necessary.

In response, the senator appeared to take a moment to consider the question before joking that the presenter perhaps should not have asked it. He subsequently defended his decision to seek another term, pointing to the experience of lawmakers in the United States as an example of the value of continuity in legislative service.

Ndume argued that Nigeria was increasingly adopting aspects of the American political system and suggested that the Senate was an institution where experience and maturity could be particularly valuable.

To support his position, he cited the ages and length of service of some prominent members of the United States Senate. He mentioned Chuck Grassley, whom he identified as the Senate president pro tempore, noting that he was 93 years old and had served in the Senate for 51 years.

Ndume also referred to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, stating that he had spent 35 years in the Senate. The Nigerian lawmaker used these examples to argue that long-serving politicians could continue to contribute meaningfully to legislative affairs.

He further claimed that 72 per cent of United States senators were above the age of 60, presenting the figure as evidence that older lawmakers continued to play a significant role in the American legislature.

“Right now in the American Senate, 72 percent of them are above 60. That is, by even definition, the Senate is where elders are supposed to represent the people. And thank God, as I said, I am from a very very poor background. I don’t have a political godfather,” Ndume said.

The senator also spoke about his personal background, describing himself as someone who came from a very poor family and insisting that he did not rely on a political godfather to advance his career.

Following his argument about the importance of experience, the presenter acknowledged that continuity could have advantages but asked Ndume to identify the concrete achievements he had delivered for the people of Borno South during his years in public office.

In response, Ndume highlighted several projects he said he had sponsored through legislative initiatives, including a proposed Federal College of Agriculture in Shani, Borno State.

His response shifted the discussion towards the practical impact of his time in the National Assembly, with the senator seeking to demonstrate that his experience had translated into efforts to attract federal institutions and development projects to his constituency.

Watch headline quotes from (15:37 – 15:56):

Kwale_News feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com