The Osun State Police Command on Wednesday interrogated Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, over controversial remarks allegedly made during a campaign event ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Fadahunsi arrived at the police headquarters in Osogbo at about 2:35 p.m., accompanied by Samuel Etaifo, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security in the state.
His invitation followed the circulation of a campaign video in which he was allegedly heard urging supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “kill” members of the Accord Party.
The comment triggered widespread outrage and raised concerns about possible political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
The senator later clarified that his statement was metaphorical, insisting he meant APC supporters should “kill Accord with votes” by defeating the party at the ballot box.
Despite the clarification, the controversy has persisted, with political opponents and civil society organisations calling for a full investigation.
The Accord Party has demanded the senator’s arrest and prosecution, describing the alleged statement as a direct threat to its members and supporters.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, the party expressed concern that the remark was made just days before the governorship election.
“For a sitting senator to condescend so low to publicly threaten the lives of fellow compatriots days to the gubernatorial poll in the state is unjust and unacceptable,” the party said.
Accord also called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and ensure the protection of its members and supporters from possible attacks.
The party further urged the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, African Union and ECOWAS to closely monitor the Osun political environment and support efforts toward a peaceful and credible election.
It also alleged that more than 60 of its members had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State, demanding their immediate release.
The controversy also drew criticism from Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), who warned that inflammatory political statements could heighten tensions and undermine the credibility of the election.
In a post on his X account on Wednesday, Obi said political leaders have a duty to promote peace and protect citizens, especially during election periods.
He urged Fadahunsi to withdraw the statement and apologise to the people of Osun if the video accurately reflected his remarks.
Obi also called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint and avoid rhetoric capable of inciting confrontation.
Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, also called for disciplinary action against the senator.
Frank urged the Senate to suspend Fadahunsi and called on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the comment.
“The Senate must immediately suspend such a senator who can make such unguarded statements. We want to see action taken as an example to every person involved in election violence,” Frank said.
He warned that inflammatory political rhetoric should not be dismissed as isolated incidents, arguing that such statements could have wider implications for Nigeria’s political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The police invitation is part of an ongoing inquiry into whether the senator’s remarks may constitute an offence under laws governing public order and electoral conduct.
The command had earlier summoned Fadahunsi to appear before the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo to clarify the circumstances surrounding the statement.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had not announced the outcome of the interrogation or indicated whether the senator would face charges.
The development comes as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of Saturday’s election amid growing concerns over security and potential violence.
With voters preparing to elect a new governor for Osun State, stakeholders continue to urge candidates and their supporters to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and ensure citizens can exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation.
