Incendiary Remarks Spark Outcry: Calls Mount for Senator Fadahunsi's Arrest Over Osun Poll Incitement

A contentious political storm has erupted in Nigeria following a viral video featuring Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was alleged to have instructed supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of the upcoming August 15 governorship election in Osun State. This alleged incitement has drawn widespread condemnation from various human rights organizations, political figures, and security experts, sparking urgent calls for accountability and a thorough investigation.

Amnesty International was among the first to vehemently condemn Senator Fadahunsi's alleged remarks. In a statement posted on its X handle, the global human rights organization described the comments attributed to the senator, who represents the Osun East senatorial district, as “deliberate and solely aimed at inciting a bloody poll in Osun State.” Amnesty International emphasized that Nigerian authorities are obligated to prohibit advocacy of hatred that amounts to incitement to hostility, discrimination, or violence, demanding that “The authorities must urgently denounce any statements, live, online or otherwise, which advocate violence. Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable.”

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, whose governorship candidacy is under the Accord Party, also reacted strongly to the video. During a press conference, Governor Adeleke accused Senator Fadahunsi of inciting violence and “genocide” against Accord Party members. He called for an immediate and thorough investigation to prevent the alleged threats from being carried out and demanded Fadahunsi's swift arrest, labeling the alleged comments a “national security threat.” Governor Adeleke stated that the matter had transcended mere politics and required the urgent attention of the President through the office of the National Security Adviser. He confirmed that he had raised the issue with the Inspector-General of Police, further calling for an end to what he described as illegal operations by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), which he alleged was arbitrarily arresting Accord Party leaders across the state.

The Accord Party itself issued a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, on Wednesday, August 12, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi. The party reiterated that the alleged remarks, calling for the killing of Accord members, were made while Fadahunsi addressed APC supporters during a campaign in Ijeshaland and were captured in a widely circulated video. Accord described the alleged statement as “outrageous and reprehensible,” asserting that it had dangerously heightened political tension in the state just days before the governorship election. The party also reinforced its claims of ongoing political violence, harassment, intimidation, and arrests of its members and supporters, allegedly orchestrated by APC-linked thugs and security personnel. Accord appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to apprehend Fadahunsi and proactively prevent any potential attacks by his supporters and APC thugs. Furthermore, the party urged the international community, including the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, African Union, and ECOWAS, to closely monitor developments in Osun State and denounce any anti-democratic activities. It also alleged that over 60 of its members had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State, claiming these arrests were designed to impede their participation in the upcoming election. Emphasizing its commitment to a peaceful democratic process, Accord stated, “Accord prepares for an election, not war,” and demanded a free, fair, credible, inclusive, and peaceful governorship election.

Adding to the pressure, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, the Accord Party’s presidential candidate, threatened to seek an international arrest warrant for Senator Fadahunsi at the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the Nigerian government fails to arrest and prosecute him. Olawepo-Hashim, a Max Beloff 2009 Prize Winner for Global Affairs, warned those inciting violence in the Osun State governorship election to consider the grave consequences of their actions. He asserted that Nigeria, being a signatory to the Hague Convention, must act immediately, failing which the mechanism for an international arrest warrant at The Hague would be activated. He also highlighted previous instances of alleged incitement by APC supporters and accused APC chieftains of inciting violence without restraint from national leaders.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), also weighed in, calling for decisive action, including the arrest of politicians and other prominent Nigerians who make statements capable of inciting violence and threatening national peace. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Irabor condemned the senator’s alleged comments and commended the police for inviting him for questioning. He stressed that individuals making inciting comments should be “picked up immediately” and argued that such statements, even if political, border on incitement to violence and should not be treated lightly. Irabor further called for action against Islamic clerics Sani Jingir and Ahmad Gumi over what he described as previous comments capable of inflaming tensions, insisting that nobody should be considered above the law.

General Irabor linked inflammatory political rhetoric to the deployment of troops during elections, arguing that such military involvement should not ordinarily be necessary in a democratic process. He expressed concern over the use of language reminiscent of Nigeria’s First Republic, cautioning against repeating historical mistakes. According to Irabor, the military’s deployment under Operation Safe Conduct serves primarily as a deterrent to prevent a deterioration of the security situation, rather than to interfere in the electoral process, and is necessitated by such provocative language.

In response to the allegations, Senator Fadahunsi denied inciting violence. He claimed that the viral video had been deliberately edited to distort his remarks and insisted that his comments were a warning of retaliation. Fadahunsi maintained that he was reacting to what he described as the “continued killing of APC members” by alleged thugs of the Accord Party in Ilesa and other parts of the state. He clarified his statement, saying, “What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate,” and added, “My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate. We are here to lodge complaints and demand justice.”

Following the controversy, the Osun State Police Command confirmed that Senator Fadahunsi had been invited for “questioning” over the alleged threat, as reported by the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO).

Adding another layer to the discourse, Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), faulted President Bola Tinubu for the controversial “kill Accord Members” remarks attributed to Senator Fadahunsi. Abdullahi argued on Arise News that he would not blame Fadahunsi directly, suggesting instead that the senator might have interpreted President Tinubu’s earlier declaration that “all is fair in politics” as an implicit authorization to take any action necessary for electoral victory. He contended that such a presidential statement could be construed by political actors as a license for unacceptable tactics, including violence, to secure electoral success. Abdullahi also expressed concerns about the “militarisation” of the state’s political environment, suggesting that the presence of armed security personnel cast doubt on the credibility of the election, though he remained optimistic about ADC’s chances if the poll were free and fair.

The controversy surrounding Senator Fadahunsi’s alleged remarks and the subsequent reactions from various stakeholders underscore the heightened political tensions and the critical need for peace and credible electoral processes in Nigeria. The calls for accountability and adherence to democratic principles highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring violence-free elections and protecting human rights during political campaigns.