Political Tensions Escalate Ahead of Osun Governorship Election
As the governorship election in Osun State approaches, political tensions have reached a boiling point. The situation has been exacerbated by the actions of Francis Fadahunsi, the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, who was grilled by the police for over two hours on Wednesday. This came after a viral video surfaced, allegedly showing him directing his supporters to kill members of the Accord in Ilesa.
Accusations and Legal Threats
The spokesman for Ademola Adeleke’s campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has threatened a N10 billion defamation suit against Fadahunsi. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Amnesty International, and the Accord have all condemned the alleged inciting remarks and demanded his immediate prosecution.
Fadahunsi, accompanied by his aides and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), arrived at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo around 2:25 pm. He was directed to the Criminal Investigation Department, where he was interrogated by the Commissioner of Police for the election, Samuel Etaifo, in the presence of his counsel, Edmund Biriomoni.
After leaving the command at about 4:56 pm, Fadahunsi denied inciting violence while addressing journalists outside the premises. He claimed his remarks were misconstrued by “mischievous interpreters” of the Yoruba language, explaining that he meant the party would “kill them with votes” on Saturday.
Allegations of Political Violence
Countering Adeleke’s call for his arrest, the senator accused the state government of failing to curb political violence. He alleged that over 30 APC members had been killed in Osun East within the last year to destabilize the party’s stronghold.
However, the state police command, through a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that the invitation was a proactive measure aimed at lowering political tension and clarifying utterances capable of inciting public disturbance.
In a related development, Olajengbesi, through his counsel, Hammed Lasisi, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Fadahunsi to retract alleged defamatory remarks made during recent live television broadcasts or face a N10 billion suit. The letter accused the senator of false claims made on Viable TV and Channels Television’s Politics Today, where Fadahunsi allegedly linked Olajengbesi to cult groups and accused him of sponsoring political thuggery in Ijesaland.
Widespread Condemnation
The controversial remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from political parties, human rights bodies, and civil society groups. Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, disclosed that his legal team had formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over alleged death threats issued against non-APC members by Fadahunsi and the APC candidate for the Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency, Francis Eniade.
The PDP expressed shock over the video, describing the remarks as uncivilized, warlike, and unacceptable in a democratic setting. Amnesty International called for the senator to be held accountable over what it described as alleged incitement to violence. The NHRC demanded his immediate suspension and arrest, saying the remarks amounted to incitement to murder, electoral violence, and voter intimidation.
According to the NHRC, Fadahunsi allegedly instructed his supporters to kill members of the Accord whenever they encountered them and warned that members of the party should not be allowed to vote, even if they possessed valid voter cards.
Calls for Immediate Action
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN), described the alleged remarks as “a licence to kill” and called for urgent action by the authorities. “This is not politics. This is a licence to kill. A public officer who tells citizens to murder other citizens because of party affiliation must not be allowed to remain in office for one more day,” Ojukwu said.
The NHRC called on the leadership of the Senate to suspend Fadahunsi immediately pending investigation, while urging the police and the Department of State Services to arrest, investigate, and, where appropriate, prosecute him in accordance with the law.
Similarly, Amnesty International said the senator’s alleged comments were reckless and deliberate, warning that authorities had an obligation to prevent and punish advocacy of hatred that constituted incitement to hostility, discrimination, or violence. The human rights organization urged the Nigerian authorities to urgently denounce statements made publicly, online, or through other platforms that advocate violence.
International Concerns
Meanwhile, the Accord has written to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Migot, seeking diplomatic intervention over alleged state-sponsored intimidation, selective freeze of government accounts by anti-graft agencies, and the arrest of over 60 of its members across Abuja and Nasarawa State.
The party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, noted that at least 29 lives had been lost in election-related violence in Osun State, urging international bodies to deploy preventive diplomacy before the polls. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, and the Coalition of United Political Parties have also called on President Bola Tinubu, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission to guarantee a peaceful, transparent, and credible election on Saturday.
