Ndlozi Calls Tinubu a 'Walking Crisis' as Nigeria's 9% Voter Mandate Draws Scrutiny
- Mbuyiseni Ndlozi posted a statistical breakdown of President Bola Tinubu's 2023 election mandate after the Nigerian presidency announced his three-week leave to London
- Ndlozi argued that Tinubu secured only 9.4% support from all registered Nigerian voters, questioning the legitimacy of his rule
- South Africans and Nigerians weighed in on the post, with some drawing parallels to declining voter participation at home
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Source: UGC
SOUTH AFRICA — Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the former Economic Freedom Fighters member who departed the party in 2025, has directed sharp criticism at Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, labelling him a "walking crisis of illegitimate rule" following an announcement that Tinubu had left Abuja for a three-week annual leave in London.
Ndlozi posted his remarks on X on 1 September 2026, in direct response to a statement from the official Presidency Nigeria account confirming the president's departure.
Ndlozi breaks down Nigeria's 2023 election numbers
In his post, Ndlozi cited figures from Nigeria's 2023 presidential election to challenge the strength of Tinubu's democratic mandate. According to his breakdown, 93,469,008 voters were registered, yet only 25,286,616 cast ballots, representing a turnout of 26.7%. Of those votes, Tinubu secured 8,794,726, which Ndlozi calculated as 36.61% of valid votes and approximately 9.4% of the total registered voter base.
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"Meaning ONLY 9% of Nigerian voters voted for him," Ndlozi wrote. "Essentially making him a walking crisis of illegitimate rule in Nigeria, in that he doesn't enjoy the majority support of his country! The voter apathy tells it all!"
View the tweet on X here:
Social media debates Ndlozi's words
The post attracted significant engagement, drawing responses from both South African and Nigerian users.
Reactions divided along national lines
Nigerian commentators pushed back on Ndlozi's analysis.
@_razaqofficial argued the assessment was reductive:
"You clearly don't understand Nigeria's composition and political terrain. This is an ignorant take. Tribe, history, alliance, and religion are all factors that affect the election outcome. Tinubu even ran a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a country where both faiths are almost (if not) even."
@BassGale was blunter in his dismissal:
"Unfortunately, those that partake and cast their X are the only ones that matter...the rest are hogwash peddlers and unfortunately in this instance, that includes you."
@cedmab questioned whether non-participation amounted to silent acceptance:
"Is non-participation not a condonation of the status quo? Waiting for Messiah symptom? I don't feel sorry for them."
South African user @mampuruzblv connected the issue to domestic politics, warning that the country faces a similar challenge ahead of its next general elections:
"They have imposed the coalition government without our consent. In the next elections, they would be forced to go for the Referendum if the same situation occurs, because now we know better."
@JimbalaE93299 struck a more pessimistic tone:
"There is no way of solving voter apathy. The people have given up on the system as the only way to change their living conditions. It will be worse in years to come."
Ndlozi unveils new political movement
In a related article, Briefly News reported on Ndlozi's new grassroots political movement, the Batho Pele Convention, which seeks to empower South Africans to take control of their communities. Ndlozi's bold vision challenges the prevailing beggar-voter mentality, urging citizens to actively engage in governance rather than passively waiting for assistance from government institutions.
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Source: Briefly News
