The Osun State Police Command has questioned Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a viral video in which he was allegedly heard calling for the killing of Accord Party members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, arrived at the command headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday afternoon to respond to questions over the remarks attributed to him.
The police invitation followed the circulation of a video from a political gathering in which the senator was allegedly heard asking supporters to kill members of the Accord Party if they were seen in certain parts of the state during the electoral process.
The development came a day after Fadahunsi denied inciting violence over the video, insisting that his statement had been taken out of context.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the senator explained that his use of the word “kill” referred to defeating political opponents through votes.
“I told them this shows that they are weak and cannot win. They should shut them down by their votes; they should kill them by their votes,” he said.
Fadahunsi maintained that he does not preach violence and was referring to the political contest rather than physical attacks.
The controversy had earlier prompted Governor Ademola Adeleke to call on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate and take action over the senator’s alleged comments.
Adeleke also urged security agencies to ensure that anyone found culpable of promoting violence ahead of the election faced the law.
The police subsequently invited Fadahunsi, saying the invitation was based on information that he had made statements considered “threatening, inciting and intimidating in nature”, which had circulated across electronic and social media platforms.
The senator’s questioning comes amid heightened political tension in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with security agencies warning political actors against inflammatory statements capable of escalating violence.
Fadahunsi’s earlier denial remains central to the controversy as the police investigate whether the viral video constituted an inciting statement.
