Osun 2026: ‘If you see them, kill them, lawmaker says

A SENATOR representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, has sparked public outrage after a video surfaced showing him calling for the killing of Accord Party members by his supporters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The senator said in the video that his call for the Accord Party members’ elimination was in retaliation for his party members, who he said were allegedly killed by members of the Accord Party.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker later said in a statement issued by his media aide that he was misinterpreted, arguing that he meant that his supporters should vote overwhelmingly to defeat the Accord Party, whose candidate and incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election.

The video was posted on social media by Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, on Tuesday.

Davido, a cousin to the state governor, called out the federal lawmaker for making inflammatory remarks just a few days to the poll.

In the viral video, the lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seen addressing a crowd in Yoruba in Ilesa town, urging them to confront opposition party members and “kill them.”

The senator said in the video: “What kind of life is this? We don’t want to hear anything about the Accord Party again in Ilesa. We have now told you, until the election period, whenever you see them, kill them.”

The video shows supporters cheering and shouting in agreement as the lawmaker delivered the address.

Davido condemned the statement, raising concerns over political violence and voter intimidation as tensions rise across the state ahead of the exercise.

However, reacting to the backlash in a statement titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Fadahunsi Tells APC on Tuesday,” the lawmaker’s media aide dismissed claims that he was promoting physical violence, describing the comment as a call to defeat the opposition at the ballot box.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement read.

It maintained that at no point did the senator incite supporters against opposition members, adding that he remained committed to a peaceful and democratic electoral process.

“At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force,” it added.

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The media team also urged the public not to distort the lawmaker’s remarks, calling on security personnel to ensure a safe environment for voters while advising political actors to maintain order before, during, and after the election.

“We, therefore, appeal to members of the public not to misinterpret or deliberately distort the senator’s comments, as they were clearly intended to encourage electoral victory through the power of the ballot and not through violence,” it stated.

However, the campaign council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate and take appropriate action over Fadahunsi’s comment against members of the Accord Party.

Similarly, the Osun State Governor has called for the senator’s arrest over the remark.