Police have summoned Francis Fadahunsi, and Governor Adeleke has called for his arrest, over a viral video from a rally in Ilesa.
Francis Fadahunsi, senator representing Osun East, says his now-viral “kill Accord” comment circulating on social media was used metaphorically and not to incite violence, as widely portrayed.
The senator came under intense criticism on Tuesday after a video circulated showing him speaking in Yoruba at a gathering in Ilesa, in which he was heard telling supporters that any Accord Party member found in the town before Saturday’s governorship election would be killed.
In the video, Fadahunsi also challenged those present to record his remarks and share them on social media.
The clip, reportedly filmed at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, was later shared widely online, including by Afrobeats star David Adeleke, known as Davido, amplifying its reach considerably within hours.
The background to the ‘Kill Accord’ controversy
According to sources who spoke to Punch, Fadahunsi made the ‘kill Accord’ remarks while addressing a protest organised over the alleged killing of three All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ilesa on Tuesday.
He was reportedly heard asking the crowd how many people they had seen the APC kill, before telling them that any Accord member sighted in Ilesa before election day would be killed.
Separately, another video showed APC chieftain Eniade telling a rally that no Accord member should be allowed to vote in Odo Otin local government area on election day.
The remarks prompted swift reaction. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke publicly called for Fadahunsi’s immediate arrest and prosecution, saying he had spoken to the Inspector-General of Police about the matter and describing the alleged conduct as a threat to the credibility of Saturday’s poll.
The Osun State Police Command subsequently summoned the senator, with command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirming to Punch that Commissioner of Police Samuel Etaifo, who is overseeing the election, had issued the summons.
The episode has added to broader concerns over political tension and voter intimidation ahead of what is already being watched as one of the most closely contested state elections this year.
Fadahunsi’s clarification on the ‘kill Accord’ remark
In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence,” Fadahunsi 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 read. “At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force.”
Fadahunsi called on political actors, party supporters and the electorate to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election, and urged security agencies to remain professional and ensure every eligible voter can exercise their constitutional right without fear or intimidation.
“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,” the statement added.
“We, therefore, appeal to members of the public not to misinterpret or deliberately distort the Senator’s comments, as they were clearly intended to encourage electoral victory through the power of the ballot and not through violence,” the statement concluded, appealing directly to both supporters and critics to allow the democratic process to run its course without further escalation.
Osun State goes to the polls on Saturday, 15 August, in a closely watched governorship election, with security agencies expected to deploy heavily across flashpoint areas, including Ilesa, in the days leading up to the vote.
