A viral video clip has ignited widespread outrage across Nigeria after Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the former Abia State governor and current senator representing Abia North, appeared to casually admit that political opponents were killed during his time with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the footage circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms, Kalu is heard saying words to the effect of:
“In PDP we used to kill people when they are doing this thing,” while contrasting that era with what he described as peaceful recent congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East, where no lives were lost.
The remark came amid Kalu’s praise for the APC’s conduct during party activities in the region, positioning the ruling party as more orderly and non-violent compared to his past experiences under the PDP umbrella.
Kalu, who governed Abia from 1999 to 2007 on the PDP platform before later defecting and joining the APC, made the statement in what appears to be an informal or campaign-related discussion.
The clip has triggered sharp reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many users condemning the senator’s words as a brazen and chilling admission of past political violence.
Critics described the comment as evidence of impunity and a reflection of the dangerous undercurrents that have historically plagued Nigerian politics, particularly in the South-East.
Some commenters questioned whether the statement could invite legal scrutiny or calls for investigation into alleged killings during the PDP era in Abia and beyond.
The timing of the video’s resurgence adds fuel to ongoing political tensions in Abia State.
Kalu has repeatedly vowed that the APC will unseat the incumbent Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party in the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Otti, in response to recent criticisms and perceived opposition alliances involving Kalu and others, has dismissed such moves as coming from “empty barrels.”
The exchange underscores the deepening rift between the APC and Labour Party forces in the state ahead of future polls.
Kalu’s political career has long been marked by controversy.
As a two-term governor under PDP, his administration faced various allegations, though no formal convictions related to political violence emerged during or immediately after his tenure.
He later switched allegiances, serving as PPA presidential candidate in 2007 before aligning with APC in recent years.
The viral nature of the clip highlights persistent public sensitivity to issues of political violence in Nigeria, especially in regions scarred by past electoral clashes, militancy, and insecurity.
Many online reactions expressed disbelief that a sitting senator would make such a statement so openly, with some calling it an unintended self-indictment.
Neither Kalu nor his media team has issued an immediate clarification or retraction as of this report.
The full context of the video—whether edited, from a longer speech, or spoken in a specific rhetorical sense—remains under discussion among observers.
As the clip continues to spread, it serves as a stark reminder of the bitter rivalries and dark chapters that have defined parts of Nigeria’s democratic journey, even as parties like the APC seek to project an image of reform and stability in their strongholds.
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