The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has blamed President Bola Tinubu for the controversial remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Abdullahi, who spoke on Arise News on Wednesday, said he did not blame Fadahunsi for the comments, arguing that the senator may have interpreted Tinubu’s earlier statement that “all is fair in politics” as approval for any action aimed at securing electoral victory.

“I don’t want to blame Senator Fadahunsi. I blame President Bola Tinubu. He got his imprimatur for what he said from President Bola Tinubu. He got his authorisation from President Bola Tinubu,” Abdullahi said.

Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, was recently summoned by the Osun State Police Command over remarks he made at an APC campaign rally in Ilesa that were interpreted as a call for attacks against members of the rival Accord Party.

Explaining his position, Abdullahi argued that Tinubu’s statement could be interpreted by political actors as giving them latitude to engage in unacceptable conduct in pursuit of electoral victory.

“When the President of the Federal Republic says ‘all is fair in politics,’ it means that you can maim, you can kill, you can steal, you can do whatever it takes, just deliver victory.

“A president doesn’t need to say everything. When a president says ‘all is fair in politics,’ you are authorising any kind of behaviour. A subordinate, someone who looks up to you, can interpret it anywhere they like,” he said.

On July 28, Tinubu, while receiving the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, warned political opponents seeking to unseat him in 2027 that he would not yield ground without a fight, saying “all is fair in a democratic contest.”

The remark came amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political parties already intensifying their activities.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi expressed confidence that the ADC, which is fielding Najeem Salaam as its candidate in the Osun governorship election, could win Saturday’s poll if it is conducted freely and fairly.

He, however, raised concerns over what he described as the “militarisation” of the state’s political space, arguing that the deployment of armed security personnel had raised questions about the credibility of the election.

“If this is going to be a free and fair election, ADC will win this election,” Abdullahi said.