A political controversy has erupted in Osun State days before the governorship election, following a viral video involving Senator Francis Fadahunsi and a demand by Governor Ademola Adeleke for the lawmaker’s arrest.
The video, which spread rapidly across social media, allegedly showed Fadahunsi calling on supporters to kill members of the Accord Party if they were seen in Ilesa during the election period.
Fadahunsi has rejected the allegation, describing the video as a “deliberate misrepresentation” of his remarks.
According to the senator, his comments were made in response to what he described as repeated attacks and killings of APC members in Ilesa by suspected Accord Party thugs.
“The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said.”
He maintained that he was warning of retaliation if violence against his supporters continued, rather than issuing a blanket directive to attack members of the opposition.
“What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate.”
The senator said his remarks were motivated by concerns over the safety of party supporters and accused those who circulated the clip of deliberately removing the comments from their wider context.
He said a speech that lasted about 24 minutes had been reduced to less than two minutes and circulated online for what he called political purposes.
“This is a clear case of deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation.”
Fadahunsi further insisted that the party would not remain passive if its members continued to be attacked.
“We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day.”
Governor Adeleke has taken a sharply different position, describing the alleged remarks as a serious threat to public safety.
The governor accused Fadahunsi of inciting violence and what he termed “genocide” against members of the Accord Party, which is the platform on which Adeleke is seeking re-election.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Adeleke called for the senator’s immediate arrest and investigation by security agencies.
“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat.”
Adeleke said he had already raised the matter with Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu and claimed the police chief had confirmed the existence of the video and promised action.
The governor also appealed to the police and Department of State Services to investigate the senator, arguing that political status should not place anyone above the law.
“We ask that the police and the DSS immediately arrest Senator Fadahunsi for his incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesahland and Osun State.”
The dispute comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with Osun voters set to go to the polls on Saturday, August 15.
The allegations have added to growing concerns about violence ahead of the election, particularly in Ilesa, where competing claims of attacks by supporters of rival political camps have intensified political tension.
Fadahunsi says his words were a warning born out of alleged attacks on APC members. Adeleke, however, argues that the remarks crossed the line into dangerous incitement.
As the controversy moves toward the security agencies, the central question remains whether the viral footage accurately represents Fadahunsi’s full statement or whether, as the senator alleges, it was selectively edited to create a misleading impression.
With the election only days away, both political camps are now under increasing pressure to restrain their supporters and prevent inflammatory rhetoric from spilling into violence
