‘We Are Not Dead’: NDC Fires Back at Kalu Over Claims of Weak Opposition

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly criticised Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) for his recent comments praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies and declaring the opposition parties irrelevant and weak.

The party’s detailed rebuttal was issued in response to a pro-government press briefing at the National Assembly complex, during the resumption of plenary on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

Persecondnews reports that the NDC described the senator’s remarks as out of touch with Nigeria’s current challenges of insecurity and failed economic policies.

It noted that Kalu, a known personal friend of the President, had presented a misleading picture of political acceptance for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and claimed the opposition was finished with no credible challenger in next year’s general elections.

NDC spokesman Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, in a statement on Thursday said: “The opposition parties in Nigeria are not dead and buried as Senator Kalu would have Nigerians believe.

“We are silently but actively consulting leaders of thought across the country to build a formidable political bulwark whose momentum will lead to the decisive and abrupt ouster of the APC-led Federal Government.”

He said the party is mobilising Nigerians from all walks of life to dismantle artificial barriers erected by the Presidency and the besieged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to block legally recognised opposition platforms.

“Nigerians are now more politically vigilant than ever and should discountenance the ridiculous and barefaced propaganda being peddled by ruling party agents against the truly parlous state of our economy, infrastructure and security,” Abdulsalam said, noting the APC had plotted to destroy opposition parties since taking power.

On the economy, Abdulsalam challenged the senator and government officials to produce verifiable performance indices to support claims of growth. “The President’s performance has been dismal, grime and poor.

The nation’s GDP has stunted rather than grown due to zero Foreign Direct Investment, a situation that brings curiosity to Nigerians and shame on the politicians running the country,” he remarked.

Abdulsalam listed the factors worsening the downturn: mass exodus of critical companies, factory shutdowns from epileptic power supply, low exports and high imports, high bank interest rates, soaring inflation, high unemployment, elevated debt-to-GDP ratio, unfavourable balance of trade and widespread insecurity.

“Hapless citizens are left bearing the brunt through multi-dimensional poverty, the japa syndrome or brain drain, and youth restiveness,” said Abdulsalam, who serves as the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

The spokesman urged Kalu to fear God, show human conscience and speak truth to power rather than pander to partisanship in the face of inexcusable failure.

“The imperative of laying a good political legacy outweighs the ephemeral gains of wealth, fame and power in the name of party politics.”