Osun Senator Threatens Accord Party Members in Viral Video

Osun East Senator Francis Fadahunsi has threatened members of the Accord Party in Ilesa ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

He made the threat in a viral video that has raised concerns about increasing political violence in the state.

Mr Fadahunsi spoke in Yoruba while addressing his supporters during a protest at the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland’s palace. He claimed there have been constant killings of APC members in Ijesaland.

In the viral video, the senator, with other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, accused Accord Party members of being responsible for the deaths. “The cap they wear, it is Yellow Fever cap, it is the cap of an animal,” Mr Fadahunsi said, referring to the yellow brand of the Accord Party.

Each insult directed at the Accord Party was met with cheers from the crowd. “It is animal that kills. Have you ever heard that APC killed anyone? Are those being killed not your people?” Mr Fadahunsi asked.

“So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing.” This statement followed the killing of three people in a shooting in the Imo area of Ilesa in Osun State, amid rising political tensions before the August 15 governorship election.

The details surrounding the killings are unclear. While some community members said it was a clash between APC and Accord supporters, the Osun State Police said it was a cult-related clash involving suspected members of the Aiye and Eiye groups.

The police confirmed that three individuals, known only as Idowu, Yinka, and Eja, were shot during the clash. They also found four spent cartridges and two Android phones at the scene.

After a distress call, the police commissioner in charge of the election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, ordered the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area. “The CP Election has directed the VCRU operatives and other tactical teams to increase patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations within Ilesa and nearby areas, especially around identified flashpoints, to prevent any reprisal attack,” the statement said.

The Ilesa incident is part of rising violence, including killings related to pre-election unrest in the state ahead of the August 15 election. The Nigeria Police Force recognized how serious the situation is. In July, the Force revealed that 30 people had been allegedly killed due to pre-election violence in Osun.

“From the complaints received, we cannot rule out the involvement of some politicians in the killings,” said Anietie Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer (PRO) during a morning broadcast on Channel TV.

Accord Raises Alarm Over Senator’s Threat

The Imole Campaign Council, which supports Governor Ademola Adeleke, condemned Mr Fadahunsi’s statement. They called for his arrest and prosecution. The council’s Chairman for Media and Publicity, Bamidele Salam, said the senator’s comments are an “open incitement to kill” and threaten Accord members and residents in Ijesaland.

The council also claimed that the senator’s statement matches reports about political thugs and fake police officers entering Ijesaland. They said Mr Fadahunsi threatened to stop Accord supporters from voting, even if they had their Permanent Voter Cards on election day.

The council urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to investigate the senator’s remarks and take action. “Coming from a serving member of the National Assembly, who swore to uphold the constitution of Nigeria, we demand that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Security arrest senator Fadahunsi and prosecute him according to the laws of the Federation.”

They also asked security agencies to focus on Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Obokun, Oriade, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West local government areas during Saturday’s election. The council said they will hold Mr Fadahunsi responsible for any violence against Accord members in Ijesaland and encouraged residents not to be afraid.

Senator ‘Clarifies’ Statement

However, Mr Fadahunsi has provided a “clarification” saying he did not mean “kill” literally. Tribune reported that the senator’s office in Osun State released a statement titled ‘Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC.’

The statement said his comment was “a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement added. It urged APC supporters and others to keep the peace and follow the law before, during, and after the election.

“At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation, or any form of attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position is that elections should be decided by the votes of the people, not by force.”

He also called on security agencies to act professionally and ensure all eligible voters can exercise their rights without fear. “Senator Fadahunsi remains committed to democratic values, issue-based campaigns, and a credible electoral process. He believes that the will of the people, freely expressed through the ballot, must always prevail.

“We appeal to the public not to misinterpret or distort the Senator’s comments, as they were clearly intended to encourage electoral victory through the power of the ballot and not through violence,” he stated.

Rising Tension Ahead of Saturday’s Poll

This latest controversy comes amid a rise in politically linked violence across Osun in the days leading to the governorship election.