Daud Olatunji
Tension has escalated ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State after the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, allegedly threatened members of the Accord Party with death.
Fadahunsi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state, allegedly made the threat while addressing APC supporters in Ilesa in a video circulating on Tuesday.
In the video, the senator, speaking in Yoruba, was heard warning his supporters to attack Accord Party members if they were sighted in the area before the election.
He reportedly said, “If we see any Accord Party members, we’ll kill them,” while accusing the opposition party’s supporters of provoking APC members.
The alleged statement has raised fresh concerns about the safety of voters and political party supporters as the state prepares for the August 15 governorship poll.
Fadahunsi also allegedly warned that Accord Party members would not be allowed to vote, even if they possessed Permanent Voter Cards.
He further threatened traditional chiefs whom he accused of supporting or accommodating Accord Party members, declaring that Ijesa land would not tolerate such individuals.
The senator reportedly said the political contest had entered a stage of “an eye for an eye,” warning those he accused of allowing themselves to be used by the Accord Party.
The alleged remarks come amid heightened political tension in Osun, where the APC, Accord Party and supporters of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, have traded accusations over alleged intimidation, arrests and political violence.
Accord candidate’s arrest controversy
The latest allegation also comes against the backdrop of a controversy surrounding the arrest of Popoola Alaba, the Accord Party candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency.
In July, the Imole Campaign Council accused security operatives allegedly linked to Fadahunsi of arresting Alaba and other Accord members in what it described as a politically motivated action intended to disrupt the party’s activities ahead of the election.
The police, however, rejected the political interpretation of the arrest.
The Osun State Police Command said Alaba was arrested following a petition dated July 4 over allegations relating to illegal mining and other offences.
The command also alleged that some persons arrested alongside Alaba attacked police officers who attempted to prevent his escape and damaged a police vehicle.
Fadahunsi’s media adviser, Sam Segun-Progress, subsequently denied any connection between the senator and Alaba’s arrest, describing the allegation as “unfortunate, reckless and completely devoid of credible evidence.”
Adeleke, APC trade accusations
The latest development adds to an increasingly charged political atmosphere in the state.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has previously accused several APC figures, including Fadahunsi, of promoting political violence. The APC figures have rejected the allegations.
Accord Party supporters have also alleged that their members have been subjected to arbitrary arrests and attacks, accusing APC-linked actors of attempting to intimidate them ahead of the poll.
The latest alleged threat has therefore heightened concerns that political rhetoric could translate into violence as parties intensify their mobilisation across the state.
The development came on the same day that Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, appealed to the United States President, Donald Trump, and the international community to pay attention to the Osun governorship election.
Davido, who is the nephew of Governor Adeleke, urged the international community to monitor developments surrounding the election and encourage Nigerian authorities to protect voters.
He expressed concern over possible violence, intimidation and disruption of the electoral process.
“Osun people deserve to exercise their constitutional right to vote freely, peacefully, and without fear,” he said.
The singer also called on relevant authorities to ensure that voters are protected and that the outcome of the election reflects the will of the electorate.
With the election only days away, the alleged remarks attributed to Fadahunsi have added a fresh dimension to the security concerns surrounding the poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies are expected to ensure that political parties and their supporters are able to participate in the election without intimidation, while any threat of violence should be investigated in accordance with the law.
PLATFORM TIMES could not independently verify the full context of the video from the material provided. Fadahunsi and the APC would need to respond to the allegation for a complete account.
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