Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate investigation, arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a viral video purportedly showing the lawmaker calling for the killing of members and supporters of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke made the demand on Tuesday during an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, where he raised fresh concerns over alleged security operations against leaders and supporters of the Accord Party in the state, describing the situation as a threat to the democratic process.
The governor said the alleged statement by Fadahunsi had gone beyond partisan politics and should be treated as a serious security matter, particularly given the heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 election.
According to Adeleke, the viral footage purportedly showed the senator calling for Accord Party members and their family members to be killed if they were encountered during the election period.
“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,” Adeleke alleged.
The governor said he had brought the matter to the attention of the Inspector General of Police and demanded immediate action, adding that the police authorities had acknowledged the existence of the video and assured him that the matter would be addressed.
“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.
He subsequently called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately investigate and, if the allegations are established, arrest and prosecute Fadahunsi over what he described as an alleged incitement to violence and killings in Ijesaland and other parts of Osun State.
Adeleke also alleged that a police directive had been issued for the arrest of leaders of the Accord Party in Osun, claiming that those arrested were to be transferred to Abuja and detained until after the election. He said he had contacted the Inspector General of Police over the alleged directive.
“I have spoken to the Inspector General of Police about the reported directive to arrest Accord Party leaders. But I am appealing to him that this development, if true, is illegal and presents Nigeria as a lawless country. Arresting Accord Party leaders on the eve of an election amounts to the police helping and assisting the APC to rig the election,” he said.
The governor further alleged that more than 62 Accord Party leaders remained in police custody without charges, and called for an end to what he described as “illegal operations” by the Intelligence Response Team against members of the party across local government areas.
He urged the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to uphold the rule of law, protect all political actors and ensure that voters are allowed to participate freely in Saturday’s election without intimidation, violence or harassment.
“We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair in policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun State,” Adeleke said.
“We finally request that the police and other security agencies should act in line with the rule of law and their oath of office before, during and after these coming elections.”
The governor’s briefing came four days before the August 15 governorship election, amid heightened political tension and competing allegations by political parties over security, intimidation and attempts to influence the outcome of the poll.