Opposition Not Dead, NDC Fires Back at Kalu

Opposition Not Dead, NDC Fires Back at Kalu

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has pushed back strongly against comments by the senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, insisting that opposition parties in the country remain active and are steadily building momentum.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, the party described Kalu’s remarks on the state of the opposition and the economy as misleading and disconnected from the realities facing Nigerians.

Kalu, who had spoken at the National Assembly during Wednesday’s plenary session, was reported to have praised the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and suggested that opposition parties lacked the strength to challenge the ruling party.

But the NDC rejected that position, maintaining that opposition groups are far from dormant and are actively consulting across political lines to forge a united front.

“The opposition parties in the country are not dead but silently busy consulting leaders of thought on the best strategy to build up a political bulwark,” the statement read.

The party said efforts are ongoing to mobilise Nigerians and strengthen democratic participation, adding that the current political climate requires deliberate collaboration among opposition forces.

Beyond the political contest, the NDC also took issue with Kalu’s positive assessment of the economy, arguing that such claims do not reflect prevailing conditions across the country.

It pointed to rising inflation, unemployment, and declining investment as indicators of economic strain, challenging proponents of the administration’s policies to provide verifiable metrics to support claims of improvement.

According to the party, the impact of economic policies is being felt by ordinary Nigerians through increased cost of living, business closures, and reduced purchasing power.

The statement further linked the economic downturn to broader social concerns, including insecurity, poverty, and growing migration of skilled workers seeking better opportunities abroad.

While criticising the senator’s comments, the NDC urged political leaders to place national interest above partisan considerations and to be candid about the country’s challenges.

“Reducing complex realities to political propaganda does not serve the Nigerian people,” the party said, calling for honest engagement on issues affecting citizens.

It concluded by reaffirming its commitment to building a credible opposition capable of offering alternative policies and leadership, expressing confidence that Nigerians remain politically aware and ready to shape the country’s democratic future.