The Imole Campaign Council, TICC, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over an alleged threat to kill members and supporters of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

Chairman, Media and Publicity of the TICC, Rep. Bamidele Salam, made the demand in a statement on Monday, alleging that a trending video showed the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District inciting members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, against Accord supporters in Ijeshaland.

Salam described the alleged statement by the senator as “despicable” and condemned what he termed an open incitement to violence, particularly coming from a serving member of the National Assembly.

According to him, the campaign council had received information over the past few weeks about the alleged movement of thugs, hoodlums and persons impersonating policemen into Ilase, the senator’s hometown, as well as other communities in Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West Local Government Areas.

The campaign council alleged that the senator also boasted of federal backing and threatened to prevent Accord supporters from voting, even if they presented their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, at polling units on election day.

Salam said: “Coming from a serving member of the National Assembly who swore to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we feel compelled to demand that the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services order the arrest of Senator Fadahunsi and prosecute him in accordance with relevant laws of the Federation.”

The campaign council also urged security agencies deployed for Saturday’s election to pay particular attention to the six local government areas in Ijeshaland to ensure the safety of voters and other residents.

It further called on security agencies to investigate and remove what it described as armed thugs and fake policemen allegedly quartered in Ilase-Ijesha and other parts of Ijeshaland.

The council said it would hold Fadahunsi responsible for any violence allegedly perpetrated against Accord members and supporters in Ijeshaland and other parts of the state.

It also alleged that the senator had repeatedly boasted about using personnel of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, to harass, intimidate and arrest Accord leaders.

According to the statement, an aide to the senator, identified as ASP Wemimo, had allegedly led IRT personnel to the homes of some Accord leaders in Ijeshaland in recent weeks.

The campaign council further alleged that its House of Representatives candidate, Alaba Popoola, was abducted by the team allegedly acting on the senator’s instructions and had yet to be released by the police.

However, the allegations contained in the statement could not be independently verified.

The TICC urged residents of Ijeshaland to remain peaceful and law-abiding, while calling on them to come out en masse on Saturday and exercise their constitutional right to vote for candidates of their choice.

The council said it would pursue all lawful avenues to ensure accountability for any acts of violence or alleged violations committed during the election.