Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, 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 making remarks threatening the lives of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their family members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke, who spoke during a press conference in Osogbo on Tuesday, said he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, demanding that the senator be invited for questioning over what he described as a serious security concern.
The governor alleged that the video showed Fadahunsi calling for violence against Accord Party members, describing the development as beyond political disagreements and a matter requiring urgent intervention from security agencies.
“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. This is now beyond politics; this is a national security threat,” Adeleke said.
He urged the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter, alleging that the comment amounted to an incitement against the people of Osun State.
The controversy followed the circulation of a video on social media by Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who shared a translation of the senator’s remarks and identified him as a serving senator representing Osun East Senatorial District.
However, Fadahunsi denied making any statement encouraging violence, describing the viral video as edited and manipulated to misrepresent his comments.
In a statement issued by his media office, the senator said his remarks were in response to alleged attacks on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ilesa and other parts of the state.
Fadahunsi explained that his comment about “killing Accord” was a reference to defeating the party through votes during the election, not a call for physical attacks against its members.
“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,” the statement read.
The lawmaker maintained that he had always supported peaceful elections and urged political actors and residents to allow voters to exercise their rights without intimidation.
Meanwhile, Adeleke also raised concerns over alleged moves to arrest Accord Party leaders across the state ahead of the election, claiming that some security operations were aimed at influencing the outcome of the poll.
He called on security agencies to uphold professionalism, due process and neutrality before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.
The development has further heightened political tension in Osun as major parties intensify campaigns and mobilisation efforts ahead of the governorship contest.