Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, strongly rejected forecasts that President Bola Tinubu might lose the 2027 presidential election. On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Kalu responded to claims from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South, arguing that the opposition lacks the necessary structural support and strategic energy to defeat the incumbent president in the upcoming election.
Kalu’s comments were a rebuttal to Abaribe’s assertions made on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where the Abia South senator suggested that Tinubu would face rejection in 2027 due to the prevailing economic difficulties and ongoing disputes over the 2023 election results.
Labeling Abaribe’s views as disconnected from political realities, Kalu pointed to his extensive political experience over three decades as evidence that the election outcome would differ. He stated that the 2027 election would essentially be “Tinubu versus Tinubu,” meaning that the president’s main challenge would stem from his performance rather than external opposition.
Reflecting on their time together in the 9th Senate, Kalu noted their shared observations of the systemic failures of previous administrations. He argued that the current economic struggles are part of a critical transition towards a sustainable economy. Kalu expressed that President Tinubu is working to end a long-standing pattern of relying on “free handouts” and “cheap money” to create a resilient economic framework, a task he believes has not been tackled by any prior leader with such dedication.
The Senator also addressed the significant issue of corruption, aligning himself with recent comments made by Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group. Kalu characterized corruption as a pervasive issue found in both public and private sectors.
He called for the federal government and anti-corruption bodies to take decisive measures, specifically noting the need for investigations into allegations against Ahmed Farouk, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), regarding serious financial misconduct related to millions of dollars spent on foreign education.
Additionally, Kalu associated Nigeria’s security issues with the fragile microeconomy, explaining that insecurity has hindered agricultural productivity, thus creating a detrimental cycle for the nation’s survival. Despite his own past legal challenges, Kalu reiterated his respect for the Nigerian judiciary, viewing it as among the best globally, and asserted the importance of upholding judicial authority.
For economic stability, Kalu advised the President to mitigate the excessive reliance on foreign currency in Nigeria. He suggested that the nation should emulate countries like South Africa and Brazil by prioritizing their local currency over the US dollar to safeguard the domestic economy. He said, “If you have dollars, change them to Naira. Go and check what South Africans are doing.”
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