The Osun State Police Command has summoned Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over remarks allegedly calling on supporters to attack members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was reportedly invited following a viral video in which he addressed supporters in Ilesa and allegedly urged them to kill Accord Party members whenever they encountered them before the election.
Police order investigation
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale, had condemned the senator’s remarks and directed an investigation.
Ojelabi said Fadahunsi had been invited since Tuesday and was expected to appear before the police on Wednesday.
“We are aware of the statement made by Senator Francis, and the CP Election, Samuel Erale, condemned the statement and he has been invited since yesterday,” Ojelabi said.
He added, “He will be coming this morning.”
Controversial remarks spark outrage
The police intervention followed widespread condemnation of the senator’s alleged remarks, which gained attention after Afrobeats singer Davido shared the video on social media.
In the footage, Fadahunsi, speaking in Yoruba to a cheering crowd in Ilesa, was heard allegedly directing supporters to confront members of the Accord Party violently.
The senator reportedly said, “We don’t want to hear anything about the Accord Party again in Ilesa. We have now told you, until the election period, whenever you see them, kill them.”
Fadahunsi reportedly made the remarks while alleging that members of his party had previously been killed by opposition supporters.
Senator’s team denies violence allegation
However, Fadahunsi’s media team rejected the interpretation of his statement, insisting that the senator was speaking metaphorically.
In a statement titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Fadahunsi Tells APC on Tuesday,” his media team said the remarks were purely political and not a call for physical violence.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement said.
It added, “At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party.”
The team maintained that Fadahunsi’s position was that the election should be decided through votes rather than force.
Election tension heightens
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the Osun governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15.
The controversy has heightened concerns about possible political violence, voter intimidation and tensions in the state ahead of the poll.
The police are expected to continue their investigation into the senator’s remarks as security agencies intensify preparations to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
