By Florencemary Nwabueze
OSUN STATE– A viral video showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi allegedly calling for the killing of Accord Party members has ignited a political firestorm just days before Saturday's governorship election in Osun State, with Governor Ademola Adeleke demanding the Senator's immediate arrest.
The Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District was captured in a video shared by Afrobeat star Davido on X, telling a crowd in Yoruba: "From now till election day, if we see them, kill them o."
The remark has drawn swift condemnation from the governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who called on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene.
"The viral video of a serving senator, Francis Fadahunsi, who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders and their families. In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children." Adeleke said.
The Governor characterized the incident as a national security threat requiring Presidential attention through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
"I have raised this issue with the IGP and demanded the immediate investigation and arrest of Senator Fadahunsi. The IGP has confirmed the video and assured of immediate action," Adeleke stated.
Governor Adeleke also requested that police and the Department of State Services (DSS) immediately arrest Senator Fadahunsi "for his incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesaland and Osun State."
"This is to prove to the world that Nigeria is a state governed by the rule of law," he added.
However, in a sharp rebuttal, Senator Fadahunsi's office vehemently denied advocating for violence or physical attacks against Accord Party members or any other political party.
In a statement issued Tuesday from his Media Office, the Senator insisted his comments were "purely political and metaphorical" – a call for supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful, and democratic means.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator's statement was purely political and metaphorical. It was a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election." the statement read
The statement further emphasized: "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. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force."
Senator Fadahunsi urged political actors, party supporters, and the electorate "to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election."
He also called on security agencies "to remain professional and ensure that every eligible voter is able to exercise their constitutional right without fear or intimidation."
The Senator's office appealed "to members of the public not to misinterpret or deliberately distort the Senator's comments, as they were clearly intended to encourage electoral victory through the power of the ballot and not through violence."
In addition to demanding the Senator's arrest, Governor Adeleke requested that the Inspector-General of Police stop what he described as "illegal operations of IRT, a team that has been arresting Accord Party leaders across the local governments for no just reason."
"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," Adeleke concluded.