The Osun State Police Command has summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, over an alleged threat to members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The police said the summons was issued by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo, following a viral video in which Fadahunsi allegedly threatened to kill Accord members seen in Ilesa before the election.
The development comes amid heightened political tension in the state following reports of violence involving supporters of rival political parties.
The command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the development during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday.
“I can confirm that Fadahunsi has been summoned by the commissioner of police. We will make a statement available regarding it,” Ojelabi said.
Fadahunsi and Francis Eniade, the All Progressives Congress candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, came under criticism on Tuesday following separate remarks considered threatening towards Accord Party members ahead of the poll.
In a video circulated on social media, Fadahunsi, who spoke in Yoruba, allegedly said that any Accord member seen in Ilesa before Saturday’s election would be killed.
Sources at the scene told The PUNCH that Fadahunsi made the remarks at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland in Ilesa during a protest over the alleged killing of three APC members in the town.
Speaking in Yoruba, Fadahunsi said, “How many people have you seen the APC kill? We are here to tell you that until the day of the election, if we see any Accord member in Ilesa, we will kill them.”
In another viral video obtained on Tuesday, Eniade, who was addressing a campaign rally, allegedly warned Accord Party members against coming out to vote in Odo Otin Local Government Area on election day.
Eniade, also speaking in Yoruba, said, “I was only waiting for today before I talked. I swear to God, anyone who is not an APC member should not come out on election day. If you said you won’t listen to us, we have warned you ahead. All the votes in Odo-Otin belong to the APC.
Also Read: Fadahunsi creates tension in Osun with threat in video
“Tell Egbedun, Osun House of Assembly Speaker, that I don’t have his time. I am his elder brother. Accord Party can’t vote in Odo-Otin. I am the one who said so.
To the APC members, go back to your ward and unit and tell them that anybody who is not an APC member should not come out to vote.”
Reacting to Fadahunsi’s alleged threat, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke called for his arrest, saying the senator’s remarks could trigger mass killings.
Adeleke, while addressing journalists in Osogbo, said he had raised the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and demanded an investigation into Fadahunsi’s conduct.
According to the governor, Disu confirmed that the police had seen the video and assured him that immediate action would be taken.
“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,” Adeleke said.
Fadahunsi subsequently denied threatening Accord Party members, saying his remarks had been taken out of context and that the video circulating on social media had been edited to portray him negatively.
In a statement personally signed by him, the senator said his attention had been drawn to an edited video circulated by singer Davido on TikTok and lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi on other social media platforms.
Fadahunsi said he had referred to the killing of a man identified as Rogba in Esa-Oke, allegedly by his fellow cult members, and argued that the governor had referred to the deceased as his son while also engaging in a disagreement with a serving member of the House of Representatives on live television.
He said his position was that continued killings would attract retaliation, adding that he would not allow APC members to be killed without a response.
“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.
Fadahunsi accused those circulating the video of deliberately taking less than two minutes from a 24-minute speech and using it to advance political interests. “This is a clear case of deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation,” he said.
PUNCH
