Osun Poll: Fadahunsi Faces Probe Over ‘Kill Accord’ Video

 

Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, has come under mounting pressure over a viral video in which he was alleged to have directed his supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party and their families ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Fadahunsi was questioned by the Osun State Police Command on Wednesday over the controversial remarks, but later denied calling for the physical killing of Accord members, insisting that his comments had been taken out of context.

The senator, who spoke with journalists after the closed-door interrogation at the command’s Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo, said the video circulating online had been edited and subsequently misinterpreted.

According to him, his use of the word “kill” referred to defeating the Accord Party at the ballot box and not physically attacking its members.

“Well, we have met, and I have told them what I said, not the one manipulated by mischievous interpreters of our language,” Fadahunsi said.

The lawmaker said the full video, which he claimed lasted about 38 minutes, would demonstrate the context in which he made the statement.

“I am a Yoruba man. If an Igbo or Hausa woman is interpreting Yoruba to me, Yoruba means many things. We said, come Saturday, during the election, we will kill them with our votes,” he said.

Fadahunsi also threatened legal action against those responsible for what he described as the manipulation and misinterpretation of his remarks.

“We will wait until after this to see what legal action we can take,” he added.

The senator arrived at the police command at about 2:35 p.m. in the company of the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale, following the widespread circulation of the video.

The controversy has further heightened tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election, coming against the backdrop of reports of violence and allegations of intimidation by rival political camps.

The International Centre for Investigative Reporting reported on Thursday that 73 election-related violent incidents had been recorded across Osun’s 30 local government areas, with 12 deaths reported in 14 LGAs during the period under review. Osogbo was identified as one of the major hotspots.

Fadahunsi, however, said his remarks were made against the backdrop of what he described as persistent attacks and killings of members of the All Progressives Congress in Ilesa and other parts of the state.

He expressed concern that the recent incidents were intended to frighten residents and discourage them from voting for the APC.

The development has drawn strong reactions from political actors and human-rights organisations.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, had accused Fadahunsi of inciting violence and what he described as “genocide” against members of the party, demanding that the senator be investigated and arrested over the alleged remarks.

Amnesty International also called for accountability, warning that statements capable of provoking violence must be urgently addressed ahead of the election.

The National Human Rights Commission similarly called for action against the senator over the alleged death threat, despite his explanation that he was referring to defeating Accord with votes.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), also weighed into the controversy, calling for decisive action against politicians and others who make statements capable of inciting violence.

Meanwhile, the police have confirmed that the senator was questioned as part of an ongoing investigation into the video.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu Okokon, said investigators had spoken with Fadahunsi and that the investigation was still ongoing. He assured the public that the outcome would be made known after the process was concluded.

The police also sought to reassure voters that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect voters, electoral officials and other participants during Saturday’s poll.

The controversy has therefore shifted attention from the senator’s explanation to the full context of the video and the outcome of the police investigation.

With only days to the election, the incident has renewed concerns over the consequences of inflammatory political rhetoric in a state already witnessing competing allegations of violence and intimidation.

The immediate question now is whether the full video supports Fadahunsi’s claim that “kill” was used as a political metaphor—or whether investigators will reach a different conclusion after examining the complete footage and surrounding circumstances.