Senator Francis Fadahunsi has rejected accusations of inciting violence ahead of the Osun governorship election. Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to arrest and investigate the senator following remarks attributed to him.
A social media clip shows Fadahunsi allegedly urging his supporters to eliminate any Accord Party members seen in Ilesa before the upcoming election. However, in a Tuesday statement, Fadahunsi denied these claims, labeling them as “deliberate misrepresentation.”
The senator clarified he was addressing the ongoing violence against APC members by alleged thugs in Ilesa, stressing that his party would “defend its people” should the violence continue.
“The video was edited to distort my actual words,” Senator Fadahunsi explained. “What I said was that if the reported killings of our members by Accord Party thugs continue, our party would retaliate. My comments were about the ongoing violence against our members in Ilesa and other areas.”
“My message was clear: if these killings persist, we will retaliate. We are here to seek justice. It’s unacceptable for individuals to kill others as our members are reportedly being killed in Ilesa,” he added.
“These victims are Nigerians, sons and daughters of the same communities. I made it clear that if our members are attacked again, we will not stand idly by. We will protect our people, even on election day. Unfortunately, Davido and Olajengbesi took less than two minutes from a 24-minute speech to serve their political ends. This is deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has accused Fadahunsi of provoking violence and making “genocidal” threats against Accord Party members. He seeks a thorough investigation to prevent these threats from materializing, asserting that no one should be above the law.
During a Tuesday press conference, the governor called for the “immediate arrest” of the senator, describing his statement as a “national security threat.”
“This extends beyond politics; it’s now a national security issue that needs Mr. President’s attention through the National Security Adviser’s office. I’ve addressed this with the IGP and demanded an immediate investigation and arrest of Senator Fadahunsi. The IGP confirmed the video’s contents and assured me of prompt action,” Adeleke stated.
“We further request that the IGP halt the unauthorized operations of the IRT, which has been arresting Accord Party leaders without cause. We demand the immediate arrest of Senator Fadahunsi by police and DSS for his incitement against Ijesahland and Osun State. This will show the world that Nigeria adheres to the rule of law.”
