The Osun State Police Command has summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, for questioning over a viral statement allegedly made during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign programme in Ilesa, just three days before the state’s governorship election.
In another development, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has called for the immediate suspension and arrest of Sen. Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, for inciting violence ahead of Saturday Osun governorship election.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu made this call in a statement issued in reaction to a viral video by Fadahunsi asking the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to “kill any Accord Party member they encountered anywhere ahead of Saturday election”.
The commission is also directing all party chairmen to issue directives to their party members to desist from any hateful, inciting, intimidating calls to violence or provocative statements ahead of the coming election.
“Any candidates or party faithful who violate these directives should be called out for violating constitutional and electoral framework for peaceful elections and should be picked up by the law enforcement authorities for prosecution,” he said.
In the video circulated online, the senator, who spoke in Yoruba language when translated said: “From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too. This is a Federal Government election. On election day, even if they come with voter cards, we won’t allow them to vote.”
Meanwhile, Fadahunsi was expected to appear before the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo at 11am on Wednesday, August 12, following allegations that remarks attributed to him were threatening and intimidating to members and supporters of the Accord Party, which is fielding incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke in Saturday’s poll.
According to an invitation dated August 11 and signed by Samuel Etaifo Erale, the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in Osun State, the senator was asked to appear to “clarify the circumstances” surrounding statements allegedly made during an APC campaign programme in Ilesa.
The letter said the invitation was based on information available to the police that the senator had made comments considered “threatening, inciting and intimidating in nature”, adding that the remarks had circulated on electronic and social media platforms.
The invitation did not establish Fadahunsi’s guilt or state that he had been charged with an offence. Rather, it required him to assist investigators in establishing the circumstances, context and intent of the remarks.
The development comes amid heightened political tension in Osun, where the APC and Accord camps have repeatedly traded accusations of intimidation, political violence and the misuse of security agencies ahead of the August 15 election.
The senator’s response to the latest police invitation was also not independently located at the time of filing.
Fadahunsi, however, has previously rejected allegations linking him to acts of political intimidation.
In February, he formally joined the APC after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party. He said the decision, taken alongside several other Osun lawmakers, was influenced by what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure and social interventions in the state.
Earlier clash over Accord candidate’s arrest
The latest controversy follows an earlier dispute involving Fadahunsi and the Accord Party.
In July, the Imole Campaign Council accused the senator of masterminding the arrest of Popoola Alaba, the Accord Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency. The council alleged that Alaba and three other Accord members were arrested by police officers linked to Fadahunsi’s security detail while meeting party canvassers.
The police rejected the political interpretation of the arrest.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said Alaba was arrested following a July 4 petition sent to the Inspector-General of Police concerning alleged illegal mining and other offences. He also said four people arrested alongside Alaba attacked police operatives and damaged a police vehicle in an attempt to free the suspect.
Fadahunsi’s media aide, Sam Segun-Progress, denied any connection between the senator and the arrest, describing attempts to link him to the incident as reckless and unsupported by credible evidence.
The dispute reinforced concerns among opposition groups about the neutrality of security agencies during the election campaign. The Accord Party has separately accused the police of targeting its members, while the command has maintained that its actions are based on petitions and alleged criminal offences rather than political considerations.
Violence fears precede Saturday’s poll
The Fadahunsi police investigation is unfolding against a backdrop of months of concern over political violence in Osun.
In June, the police convened stakeholders, including political parties and security agencies, amid reports of attacks and rising tension. The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, also met Governor Adeleke and other stakeholders in Osogbo as part of efforts to curb political violence ahead of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has identified about 385 potential flashpoints and 200 difficult-to-access terrains across the state, with its risk assessment shared with security agencies.
The security concerns have also produced allegations from both major camps. In June, the APC accused alleged hoodlums wearing Amotekun uniforms of attacking its supporters in Okinni, while the Accord Party had earlier accused alleged APC-linked hoodlums of attacking its members in the same area.
In another incident in July, the police arrested the Director of Operations of the Osun Amotekun Corps, Joseph Olagunju, amid allegations that police uniforms and weapons were found in a vehicle associated with Amotekun personnel. The incident further fuelled debate over the role of non-police security formations in the election period.
Police tighten election security
With voting now only days away, the police have moved to tighten control over election security.
The Zone 11 Police Command has said Amotekun, vigilante groups, neighbourhood-watch organisations and other quasi-security outfits will not participate in security operations for the August 15 election. The police said only the Nigeria Police Force and other constitutionally recognised security agencies would provide election security.
Authorities have also directed personnel deployed for election duties to wear approved uniforms and be properly identified, while warning against unauthorised security activities or attempts to intimidate voters, electoral officials or other stakeholders.
Earlier, the Osun command announced plans involving intelligence operatives, Rapid Response Teams and a Joint Security Command Centre, while warning that misinformation and disinformation could pose major threats to the election.
Peace pledges under pressure
The latest investigation also highlights the gap between the commitments made by political actors and the increasingly combative campaign environment.
Political parties and election stakeholders have signed peace commitments ahead of the poll, pledging to conduct campaigns peacefully and uphold the principles of free, fair and credible elections. The initiatives brought together INEC, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups and political parties.
Not all parties, however, have consistently participated in the peace initiatives. Twelve of the 14 parties taking part in the election signed Peace and Accountability Charters at a July summit, while the APC and African Democratic Congress (ADC) were absent from that particular exercise.
The development involving Fadahunsi therefore places renewed emphasis on whether political leaders will translate those commitments into restraint during the final hours of campaigning.
More than 2.3 million voters set to decide
The stakes are significant. INEC says 2,339,233 registered voters are eligible to participate in Saturday’s election across Osun’s 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units. Fourteen political parties are expected to participate.
INEC has said it is logistically, technically and operationally ready for the election. The commission has also warned political parties against using the voters’ register for vote-buying, intimidation, voter profiling or other activities capable of undermining the credibility of the poll.
Although 14 parties are on the ballot, the contest has largely centred on three leading candidates: Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC and Najeem Salaam of the ADC.
Investigation watched closely
Fadahunsi’s invitation has consequently become more than an isolated police inquiry. Coming three days before voting, it has placed renewed attention on the conduct of political actors and the responsibility of security agencies to enforce the law without political bias.
The immediate question is whether the senator’s appearance before the SCID will result in further police action or simply clarify the context of the remarks attributed to him.
For the Accord Party and other opposition groups, the investigation will be closely watched against the background of their longstanding complaints about intimidation and security-agency neutrality. For the APC, the handling of the case will be another test of whether its campaign figures can operate without allegations of inflammatory rhetoric becoming a source of electoral instability.
For the police, the episode presents a particularly delicate challenge: investigate potentially inciting political speech while maintaining public confidence that enforcement is based on evidence and law rather than partisan considerations.
With August 15 fast approaching, the focus in Osun is increasingly shifting from campaign rhetoric to the ability of political parties, candidates and security agencies to prevent threats and accusations from translating into violence at the polls.
The police investigation into Fadahunsi is therefore likely to remain a significant political and security story as the state enters the final stretch before voters decide who will govern Osun.