The political temperature in Osun State has risen another notch after the state police command summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a viral comment in which he was heard telling supporters to “kill” members of the rival Accord Party.
The invitation comes just days before the August 15 governorship election, with tensions already running high across the state and political parties intensifying their campaigns ahead of the crucial poll.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District and is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reportedly made the controversial remark while addressing party supporters during an APC campaign programme in Ilesa on Tuesday.
A video of the speech quickly spread across social media, triggering outrage and renewed concerns over the possibility of political violence before and during the election.
Police demand explanation from Fadahunsi
Following the controversy, the Osun State Police Command invited the senator to appear before its State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo.
In a letter dated August 11, 2026, and signed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security in Osun, Samuel Etaifo Erale, Fadahunsi was directed to report to the SCID at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 12.
According to the letter, the invitation was issued following information received by the police concerning statements allegedly made by the senator during the Ilesa campaign.
The police said the remarks were considered threatening, inciting and intimidating, particularly because the video had already circulated widely across electronic and social media platforms.
The letter stated:
“The invitation is premised on information in possession of the Nigeria Police alleging that during your address at the aforementioned programme, you made statements considered to be threatening, inciting and intimidating in nature, and the statement has already been in circulation on various electronic and social media platforms.”
The police are expected to question Fadahunsi about the circumstances surrounding the statement and determine whether it amounted to an incitement to violence.
What Fadahunsi actually said
In the viral footage, Fadahunsi was heard addressing APC supporters in Yoruba and identifying how members of the Accord Party could allegedly be recognised.
He then made a statement translated as:
“From now till the election day, if we see them, kill them o.”
The comment immediately sparked backlash, particularly because Governor Ademola Adeleke, the incumbent governor and candidate of the Accord Party, is seeking re-election on the platform of the party.
With the election only days away, the statement has raised fresh questions about the language being used by political actors during the final stretch of the campaign.
Senator changes explanation
Fadahunsi has since sought to clarify the controversial remark, insisting that he was not calling for physical violence against Accord members.
His media office issued a statement in Osogbo titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC.”
According to the statement, the senator’s comment was intended as political rhetoric urging APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party at the ballot box.
His media office described the statement as “purely political and metaphorical”, insisting that Fadahunsi was advocating a decisive electoral victory rather than physical attacks.
The statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical.”
It further explained that the senator was calling on APC supporters to “overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means” during the August 15 election.
The senator’s camp also maintained that he never instructed APC supporters to physically attack members or supporters of the Accord Party.
Tension mounts ahead of August 15 poll
The police invitation adds another layer to an already highly charged Osun election, where allegations of intimidation, political violence and the deployment of political influence have featured prominently in the campaign.
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With the election just days away, the controversy surrounding Fadahunsi’s remarks is likely to place renewed pressure on political parties and their supporters to moderate their rhetoric and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions.
For the police, however, the immediate task is to establish exactly what the senator meant by the statement and whether the clarification that followed is consistent with the circumstances in which the remark was made.
As Osun voters prepare to decide their next governor, the controversy has also underscored a broader concern: how far can political rhetoric go before it becomes a threat to public safety?