Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has come under intense criticism following a viral video in which he was allegedly heard making a violent remark about members of the Accord Party ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
The senator, who is a prominent supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, made the controversial remarks while addressing APC supporters in Ilesa on Tuesday.
In the video circulating on social media, Fadahunsi was heard speaking in Yoruba and allegedly telling supporters to kill Accord Party members they encountered in Ilesa before the election.
The remarks have generated widespread condemnation, with political stakeholders expressing concern that inflammatory statements could increase tension and threaten the peaceful conduct of the Osun governorship election.
Fadahunsi’s viral video sparks outrage
The video showed Fadahunsi addressing a gathering of APC supporters in Ilesa, where he appeared to make a direct reference to members of the Accord Party.
He reportedly told those present to target Accord members ahead of election day and also challenged people at the gathering to record his words and share them online.
The statement reportedly received cheers from some supporters at the venue.
The development quickly attracted reactions from residents and political actors, particularly because it occurred during an already tense election campaign.
Critics have argued that political leaders have a responsibility to discourage violence and encourage supporters to resolve political differences through the ballot box.
Adeleke campaign council calls for police action
Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign council, condemned the senator’s alleged comments.
Olajengbesi described the statement as inciting and undemocratic, warning that it could pose a threat to lives and undermine the peaceful conduct of the election.
The campaign council subsequently called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to urgently investigate the matter.
According to Olajengbesi, no political leader or supporter has the right to prevent citizens from voting or threaten members of another political party.
He said security agencies must act quickly to prevent the alleged threat from escalating into violence.
“Mr Inspector-General of Police, this must be addressed immediately. Nobody has the right to kill an Accord member or any citizen. Nobody has the right to stop Osun people from voting. Enough is enough,” he said.
As of the time of filing the report, police spokesperson DSP Abiodun Zechariah had not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Senator Fadahunsi denies inciting violence
Following the backlash, Fadahunsi denied that he was calling for physical attacks against Accord Party members.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, the senator said his statement had been misunderstood and that his reference to “killing” was intended to mean defeating the opposition through votes.
He explained that he was urging APC supporters to defeat their political opponents at the polling booths rather than through violence.
“I told them this shows that they are weak and cannot win. They should shut them down by their votes; they should kill them by their votes,” Fadahunsi said.
The senator also alleged that the viral video had been edited to remove the context of his remarks and portray him as encouraging violence.
Fadahunsi claims APC members were attacked
Fadahunsi further claimed that his remarks were made in response to alleged attacks against APC members in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State.
According to the senator, he was reacting to reports of violence allegedly involving members of his party and individuals linked to the Accord Party.
He maintained that the APC had a right to defend its members if the alleged attacks continued.
Fadahunsi said he had been raising concerns over the alleged incidents and seeking justice rather than encouraging supporters to attack political opponents.
He warned that the party would not remain passive if its members were allegedly targeted again.
“I stated unequivocally that if our party members are killed again, we will not simply fold our arms and watch. We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day,” he said.
Adeleke campaign council demands Fadahunsi’s arrest
Despite the senator’s explanation, Governor Adeleke’s campaign council has demanded his immediate arrest and prosecution.
The council argued that the allegation was particularly serious because Fadahunsi is a serving member of the National Assembly and had sworn to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
The council said political disagreements should not be allowed to result in threats against citizens or interfere with voters’ constitutional rights.
“Coming from a serving member of the National Assembly who swore to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we feel compelled to demand that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Security order the arrest of Senator Fadahunsi and prosecute him in accordance with relevant laws of the federation,” the council stated.
Osun governorship election: Security concerns rise
The controversy comes as political parties intensify their campaigns and mobilisation across Osun State.
With the governorship election approaching, concerns over political violence, voter intimidation and the safety of electoral participants have remained major issues.
The latest dispute has therefore increased calls for security agencies to closely monitor political activities and investigate statements that could potentially threaten public safety.
While Fadahunsi insists that his remarks were misinterpreted and that he was referring to electoral victory, the Adeleke campaign council maintains that the statement constituted a serious threat that should not be ignored.
The police and other security agencies have yet to publicly announce any action taken over the viral video.
As political parties prepare for the election, stakeholders are expected to continue calling on their supporters to avoid violence and allow voters to freely exercise their democratic rights.
The outcome of any investigation into Fadahunsi’s remarks could determine whether further action will be taken against the senator over the controversial statement.
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