Police summon Osun senator over alleged killing threat

The Osun State Police Command has summoned the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, over an alleged threat against members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

 

The command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed this in a telephone interview with journalists on Wednesday, saying the senator was summoned by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo.

 

Ojelabi said, “I can confirm that he (Fadahunsi) has been summoned by the CP. We will make a statement available regarding it.”

 

Fadahunsi and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, Francis Eniade, came under criticism on Tuesday over separate comments perceived as threats against Accord Party members ahead of Saturday’s poll.

 

In a video circulated on social media, Fadahunsi, who spoke in Yoruba, was heard threatening to kill any Accord member seen in Ilesa before the election.

 

Sources at the scene told journalists that the senator 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 on Tuesday.

 

Fadahunsi was heard saying, “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 video circulated on Tuesday, Eniade, while addressing a campaign rally, allegedly warned non-APC supporters against coming out to vote in Odo Otin Local Government Area on election day.

 

He 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.”

 

He added, “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 remarks, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, called for the senator’s arrest, describing the comments as capable of triggering mass violence.

 

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, Adeleke said he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and requested an investigation and the senator’s arrest.

 

He said the IGP confirmed the existence of the video and assured him that immediate 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.

 

“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.

 

However, Fadahunsi denied issuing a direct call for the killing of Accord Party members, saying his comments were taken out of context and that the video had been manipulated to portray him negatively.

 

In a statement personally signed by him, the senator said his attention had been drawn to an edited version of the video circulated by Afrobeats 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 fellow cultists, and warned that continued killings would attract retaliation.

 

“My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate,” he said.

 

He added, “All those being killed are Nigerians and, indeed, sons and daughters of the same communities. 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.”

 

Fadahunsi accused those circulating the video of deliberately editing his 24-minute speech to serve political purposes.

 

“Unfortunately, Davido and Olajengbesi took less than two minutes from a speech that lasted about 24 minutes and circulated it to achieve cheap political objectives. This is a clear case of deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation,” he said.