Ali Mohammed

Mohammed Ali Ndume (born 20 November 1959) is a Nigerian politician who has served as the senator representing Borno South Senatorial District since 2011. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2003 to 2011. He is currently a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mohammed Ali Ndume was born in Gwoza Town of Borno State.

He attended Gadamayo Primary School in Gwoza from 1964 to 1972 and completed his education there. He proceeded to Comprehensive Secondary School Mubi in then Gongola (now Adamawa State) from 1973 to 1978, obtaining his Secondary School Certificate and WASC. He was noted for his leadership roles, including Junior and House Captain, and consistently ranked first in his class.

After secondary school, he studied Marketing at Kaduna Polytechnic, earning an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in 1980 and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing in 1982 with an upper credit level. He served his compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, from 1982 to 1983.

He joined Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri as a lecturer in 1983, rising to the rank of Senior Lecturer. In 1988, he received a USAID Post-Graduate Scholarship to study Business and Computer Education at the University of Toledo, Ohio, graduating with a B.Ed and M.Ed in 1990, earning Magna Cum Laude and Phi Kappa Phi honors.

Upon returning to Nigeria, he continued his teaching career at Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri until 2003, when he fully entered politics. He was elected to represent Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the ANPP platform from 2003 to 2011.

He was unanimously elected as the Minority Leader in the 6th Assembly in 2007. In December 2010, he defected to the PDP, citing party injustices, and won the 2011 Senate election with 146,403 votes, defeating Dr. Asaba Vilita Bashir of ANPP and Alhaji Unaru Ibrahim of CPC.

Ndume served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on MDGs and remained active in the political landscape. He was removed from his Senate position due to his proximity to the Presidency and support for EFCC Chairman nominee Ibrahim Magu. He later aligned with APC after political re-alignments.

Re-elected in 2015, he became the Senate Majority Leader until 2017, when he was impeached by APC Senators. He lost his bid to become President of the 9th Senate in 2019, contesting against Senator Ahmed Lawan. He was elected Chief Whip of the 10th Senate on 4 July 2023 but was removed on 17 July 2024 by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

As a senator, he has implemented over 60 constituency projects, including classroom constructions, health care centers, electrification, and motorized boreholes across Borno South’s nine local governments. He has also created job opportunities and donated tractors and boreholes to communities.

On 27 April 2023, he facilitated the construction of 100 houses in Gwoza Local Government Area. He has received numerous awards, including USAID, Dreams African Leadership Excellence, and Parliamentary Media Awards for Leadership. He is married to Justice Aisha and Hajia Maryam, with 15 children.