Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has demanded the immediate arrest and investigation of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a viral video in which the lawmaker was allegedly heard calling for the killing of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their family members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke said the alleged statement was too serious to be treated as ordinary political disagreement, describing it as a threat to peace and national security.
The governor made the demand while addressing journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, where he raised concerns about the security situation ahead of the election.
According to Adeleke, he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and requested that Fadahunsi be investigated and arrested.
He said the IGP confirmed that the video existed and assured him that appropriate action would be taken.
“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,” Adeleke said.
He alleged that the senator went further in the video by calling for the killing of the wives and children of Accord Party members if the party’s leaders could not be found.
“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the Office of the National Security Adviser,” the governor said.
Adeleke also called on the police and the Department of State Services to arrest Fadahunsi over what he described as alleged “incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesaland and Osun State.”
The controversy followed the circulation of a video on social media in which the senator was allegedly heard making remarks about members of the Accord Party.
Afrobeat singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, was among those who shared the video online. He described Fadahunsi as a serving senator and provided an English translation of the remarks attributed to the lawmaker.
According to the translation shared by Davido, the senator allegedly said: “From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too.”
The allegation has generated concern because of the timing of the statement, coming only days before the Osun governorship election.
Political violence has remained a major concern during elections in Nigeria, with political parties and candidates often accusing their opponents of attacks, intimidation and the use of thugs.
Osun State has also witnessed political tensions in the past, particularly during election periods. The state has a history of closely contested elections, making security and the conduct of political actors key issues ahead of Saturday’s poll.
However, Fadahunsi has rejected the interpretation put on the viral video, saying it was edited and manipulated to give a false impression of what he said.
In a statement personally signed by him, the senator said his attention was drawn to the video being circulated by Davido on TikTok and lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi on other social media platforms.
“My attention has been drawn to an edited video being circulated by Davido on TikTok and Pelumi Olajengbesi on other social media platforms. The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said,” Fadahunsi said.
The senator explained that his remarks were made in response to alleged attacks on members of the All Progressives Congress in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State.
He said he was referring to retaliation if the alleged attacks continued, rather than issuing a general order for the killing of Accord Party members and their families.
“What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate,” he said.
Fadahunsi added that he was referring to what he described as continued violence against APC members in Ilesa and other communities.
“I stated unequivocally that if our party members are killed again, we will not simply fold our arms and watch. We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day,” he said.
The senator also accused the Osun State Government of failing to adequately condemn alleged attacks on APC members.
He claimed that more than 12 APC members had reportedly been killed, although the claim was not independently established in the statement.
Fadahunsi urged residents of Ijesaland and other parts of Osun State to reject violence and participate peacefully in the election.
The senator’s explanation has, however, failed to end the controversy over the video, with the governor insisting that security agencies must investigate the matter.
Adeleke said the alleged remarks were particularly disturbing because they involved not only political opponents but also their wives and children.
The governor also raised another security concern, alleging that a police signal had been issued directing the arrest of Accord Party leaders across Osun State.
According to him, the alleged directive instructed that those arrested should be taken to Abuja and detained until after the election.
Adeleke said that if such an operation was confirmed, it would amount to an attempt to use security agencies to influence the outcome of the election.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the allegation and ensure that security agencies remained neutral before, during and after the election.
The governor also demanded an end to what he described as the “illegal operations” of the Intelligence Response Team, alleging that its operatives had been arresting Accord Party leaders across different local government areas without justification.
“We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun State,” Adeleke said.
He further urged the police and other security agencies to act according to the law and their professional responsibilities.
“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,” he said.
The allegations have added another layer of tension to the political contest in Osun, where rival parties are campaigning for the support of voters across the state.
The role of security agencies is expected to remain a major issue as the election approaches, with political parties and candidates calling for a level playing field and adequate protection for voters.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is responsible for conducting the election, while the police and other security agencies are expected to maintain law and order and protect voters, electoral officials and election materials.
The latest controversy has also highlighted concerns over the use of social media during election periods. Viral videos and statements can quickly spread across platforms, sometimes before their full context or authenticity is established.
In this case, Fadahunsi has insisted that the video was edited, while Adeleke has called for his arrest and investigation based on the content attributed to him.
The dispute is therefore likely to remain a major issue in the final days of the election campaign, particularly as authorities face pressure to prevent political violence and ensure that voters can freely participate in the poll.
With both sides making allegations of violence against their supporters, attention will now be focused on the security agencies and other relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the video and respond to any genuine threats to peace.
For residents of Osun, the immediate concern remains the conduct of a peaceful election in which voters can exercise their rights without fear, intimidation or violence.