Osun State Governor 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 calling for attacks on Accord Party leaders, supporters and their families ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke made the demand while addressing journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, August 11. He said he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and requested that Fadahunsi be investigated and arrested.
According to the governor, Disu confirmed that the video existed and assured him that 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.
“In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children,” Adeleke said.
“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 also urged the police and the Department of State Services to arrest Fadahunsi over what he described as an alleged “incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesaland and Osun State.”
The controversy followed the circulation of a video showing Fadahunsi speaking in Yoruba while addressing supporters in Ilesa ahead of the election.
Afrobeat singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, shared the video on social media and identified Fadahunsi as a serving senator, alongside an English translation of the remarks.
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.”
Fadahunsi has, however, rejected the interpretation, saying the video was edited and manipulated to change the meaning of his comments.
In a statement personally signed by the senator, he said:
“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,” he said.
Fadahunsi said his comments were made in response to alleged attacks on APC members in Ilesa and other parts of Osun, arguing that he was referring to retaliation if the alleged violence continued.
“What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate. I was referring to the continued violence and attacks against our members in Ilesa and other parts of the state,” he said.
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He added, “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.”
The senator accused the Osun State Government of failing to adequately condemn alleged attacks against APC members, claiming that more than 12 party members had reportedly been killed.
Despite the controversy, Fadahunsi urged residents of Ijesaland to reject violence and participate peacefully in Saturday’s election.
Adeleke also raised a separate security concern, alleging that a police signal had been issued directing the arrest of Accord Party leaders across Osun State.
According to the governor, the alleged directive instructed that those arrested should be taken to Abuja and detained until after the election.
He warned that such an operation, if confirmed, would amount to an attempt to use security agencies to influence the outcome of the poll.
Adeleke further called for 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 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.
“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,” the governor said.
The competing accounts come just days before the August 15 governorship election, amid heightened political tension and allegations of violence and intimidation by rival political camps.