A viral video which captured Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, urging his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party in Ilesa ahead of Saturday’s governorship election is causing furore online.
But the embattled senator has tried to douse the tensions when he appeared on Channels Television where he tried to clarify his pronouncement as a wake up call for the supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to be watchful and defend their votes.
The senator was at the palace palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Owa Adesuyi Haastrup with other APC chieftains and supporters to express their concerns over what they described as the incessant killing of APC members in Ijesaland.
Speaking in Yoruba, Fadahunsi said: “If we hear about any Accord member in Ilesa, we will kill him.” The alleged threat comes a day after three people were killed in a violent incident around the Imo area of Ilesa.
While sources in the community attributed the incident to a clash between supporters of the APC and Accord Party, the Osun State Police Command said it was a cult-related clash involving suspected members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities.
The command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi said that following a distress call, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, directed the deployment of operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit, VCRU, to the area.
The command said three persons, identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, although not yet properly identified, were reportedly shot dead.
It added that four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene, while preliminary investigations had commenced.
“The Command is also working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all persons connected with the clash,” the statement said.
According to the police, the CP Election has directed VCRU operatives and other tactical teams to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations in Ilesa and adjoining areas, particularly around identified flashpoints, to prevent reprisal attacks.
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The command warned members of rival cult groups and other criminal elements against exploiting the incident to cause further violence.
It also urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the police.
Reacting to Fadahunsi’s alleged threat, the Imole Campaign Council condemned the video and called on security agencies to investigate and prosecute the senator.
In a statement issued by the council’s Chairman, Media and Publicity, Bamidele Salam, the campaign council alleged that thugs, hoodlums and individuals posing as police officers had been brought into Ijesaland ahead of the election.
“The video which has been confirmed by several persons is a confirmation of the information we have gathered in the last couple of weeks as to the importation of thugs, hoodlums and fake policemen into Ilesa, the hometown of the senator, and some other towns of Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East and West and Atakumosa East and West local governments,” Salam said.
He described the alleged threat as “despicable” and called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to order Fadahunsi’s arrest and prosecution if found to have violated the law.
The campaign council also alleged that the senator had threatened to prevent Accord supporters from voting, even if they presented their Permanent Voter Cards at polling units.
It called on security agencies deployed for Saturday’s election to pay particular attention to the six local government areas in Ijesaland to protect voters and other residents.
The council further alleged that armed thugs and individuals posing as police officers were staying in parts of Ijesaland and urged security agencies to investigate the claim.
It also accused Fadahunsi of using personnel of the Intelligence Response Team to harass and intimidate Accord leaders, alleging that an Accord House of Representatives candidate, Alaba Popoola, was abducted by the team on the senator’s instructions and had yet to be released.
The council said it would hold Fadahunsi responsible for any violence against Accord members in Ijesaland or elsewhere in Osun State, while urging residents to remain peaceful and turn out to vote on Saturday.
The Guardian
