Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate arrest and investigation of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a viral video in which the lawmaker was allegedly heard directing his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke made the demand on Monday while addressing journalists in Osogbo, saying he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who, according to him, confirmed the existence of the video and assured him that appropriate action would be taken.
The governor described the development as a matter beyond partisan politics, urging the police, Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies to investigate the senator over what he termed an alleged incitement to violence against the people of Ijesaland and Osun State.
“The second issue has to do with the viral video of a serving Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their families,” Adeleke said.
“In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children.”
Adeleke added: “This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the Office of the National Security Adviser.”
The controversy followed the circulation of a video on social media showing Fadahunsi addressing supporters ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, also shared the video and provided an English translation of the remarks attributed to the senator.
According to the translation circulated online, Fadahunsi was allegedly heard saying, “From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too.”
However, Fadahunsi rejected the interpretation of the video, describing it as edited and manipulated to distort the context of his remarks.
In a statement personally signed by him, the senator said his comments were made in response to alleged attacks on members of the All Progressives Congress in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State.
“My attention has been drawn to an edited video being circulated by Davido on TikTok and Pelumi Olajengbesi on other social media platforms. The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said,” Fadahunsi stated.
The senator explained that he was referring to retaliation if alleged attacks against APC members continued, rather than issuing a general directive for the killing of Accord Party members.
“What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate. I was referring to the continued violence and attacks against our members in Ilesa and other parts of the state,” he said.
Fadahunsi further stated that the APC would not remain passive if its members were attacked, saying, “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 also accused the Osun State Government of failing to adequately condemn alleged attacks on APC members, claiming that more than 12 party members had reportedly been killed.
The senator, however, urged residents of Ijesaland to reject violence and participate peacefully in Saturday’s election.
Meanwhile, Adeleke alleged that a police signal had been issued directing the arrest of Accord Party leaders across the state, with the alleged instruction that those arrested should be taken to Abuja and detained until after the election.
The governor said such an operation, if established, would amount to an attempt to influence the outcome of the election through the security agencies.
He also called for an end to what he described as the “illegal operations” of the Intelligence Response Team, alleging that its operatives had been arresting Accord Party leaders across various local government areas without justification.
“We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun State,” Adeleke said.
“We finally request that the police and other security agencies should act in line with the rule of law and their oath of office before, during and after these coming elections.”
