Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission and former Abia State Governor, has dismissed any notion of credible opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential race, framing the contest as “Tinubu versus Tinubu.”
In a wide-ranging interview with the Senate Press Corps at the National Assembly foyer on Tuesday, the Abia North representative hailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) as deeply entrenched nationwide, crediting Tinubu’s policies with steady gains in economic stabilization and security. “Our party is fully on the ground and fully with the people,” Kalu asserted. “Nobody can say we don’t have the people on our side. We will continue to do what we can to help the Nigerian masses progress.”
Kalu likened the scenario to Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo’s re-election bid, insisting Tinubu faces no viable challengers. He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s backing of the administration under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, prioritizing legislation to alleviate economic woes. “Whatever the problem, the Senate is more interested in making laws that will help President Tinubu overcome the economic challenges our people are facing,” he said. “We are focusing on redeeming Nigerians so they can eat three times a day.”
Backs Trump’s Remarks on Killings: “He Told the Truth”
Kalu endorsed recent comments attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump on Nigeria’s escalating violence, rejecting claims of bias and emphasizing the non-sectarian toll. “If it’s a lie, then the answer is that it’s not a lie because he said the truth,” Kalu stated. “Nigerians are being killed whether they are Christians or Muslims. There are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria. We should blacklist them without pity so that they will be smoked out.”
Drawing from personal diplomacy, Kalu disclosed consultations with two former U.S. presidents—one Republican, one Democrat—and six current U.S. senators, all expressing willingness to aid Nigeria’s anti-terrorism efforts. “Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have found out where these terrorists are located,” he noted, pointing to recent Nigerian Air Force strikes as evidence of fruitful U.S.-shared intelligence. “That’s how it should be.”
While identifying as “pro-America,” Kalu critiqued U.S. foreign policy legacies, linking the 2011 killing of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein to unchecked arms proliferation across Africa. “When you killed Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, it became a problem because those people were maintaining their borders,” he explained. “After their deaths, light and heavy arms spilled all over the world, and we are suffering from it today.”
He quashed rumors of U.S. antagonism toward Tinubu’s government, clarifying: “Nigerians are clapping hands, and political opponents are thinking that the U.S. is after Tinubu’s government. No! They are going after the jihadists.”
Dismisses Defection Rumors, Predicts APC Gains in Southeast
On speculation surrounding Abia Governor Alex Otti’s potential shift from the Labour Party to the APC, Kalu denied any coercion. “Neither me nor other senators, the Senate President, or President Tinubu have ever forced anybody to join our party,” he said. “I have met with my governor; he is my brother and used to be my banker. Whether he joins or not is up to him.” Nonetheless, Kalu vowed full commitment: “As for me, I will work 100% for the APC, campaign in the state, and ensure victory for President Tinubu and every APC candidate.”
Kalu was more bullish on Soludo’s trajectory, predicting the APGA governor’s eventual alignment with the APC post-re-election. “Soludo is a progressive like myself, President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, and the governors of Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu,” he said. “He has no alternative than to come and join us—it’s confirmed.”
Economy: Macro Gains Amid Micro Hardships
Assessing Nigeria’s fiscal landscape, Kalu conceded the daily struggles felt by many while highlighting positive macroeconomic trends. “As a businessman, I am feeling the pain too,” he admitted. “The macro economy is doing well, but the micro economy is not. Foreign investors are coming in, and what is left is for this progress to trickle down to the masses so that people can eat daily and return to farming.”
He lauded Tinubu’s personal investment in reforms and the Senate’s complementary role in fostering food security and growth. “President Tinubu has put his life into revamping the economy, and the Senate is also doing its best to ensure that Nigerians feel the progress.”
Senate Unity: Impeachment Rumors “Family Misunderstanding”
Addressing early whispers of an impeachment plot against Akpabio, Kalu downplayed the discord as internal friction swiftly resolved. “There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen,” he said. “We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen.”
Kalu’s statements reflect staunch loyalty to Tinubu and the APC, a collaborative approach to security with international allies, and measured optimism that targeted interventions can surmount Nigeria’s intertwined economic and stability hurdles.
