ILESA, OSUN STATE — Political tensions in Osun State reached a boiling point just days ahead of the August 15 governorship election following the emergence of a viral video in which the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, appears to instruct supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to eliminate members of the rival Accord Party.
The footage, which circulated rapidly across social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), shows Senator Fadahunsi speaking in Yoruba to a gathered crowd in Ilesa during a protest at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland. Addressing recent clashes and alleged attacks against APC members in the region, the lawmaker referred to Accord Party members by their distinctive yellow headwear, describing it as the “Yellow Fever cap” of an animal. Daring spectators to record his words, Fadahunsi urged the crowd to confront Accord supporters, declaring that from now until election day, if any Accord member is seen, they should be killed.
The footage quickly provoked widespread condemnation and national attention after it was amplified by prominent figures, including music superstar Davido, whose uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, is seeking re-election under the Accord Party banner. Civil society organizations, election monitoring groups, and opposition leaders condemned the inflammatory rhetoric, warning that such statements threaten to ignite widespread electoral violence and undermine voter confidence in a sensitive election cycle.
As public backlash intensified, Senator Fadahunsi and his media team issued clarification statements attempting to douse the controversy. A formal statement released by his media office titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence” argued that the senator’s remarks were entirely political and metaphorical. The statement maintained that the phrase was intended as a charge for supporters to overwhelmingly defeat the Accord Party at the ballot box through peaceful and democratic means, rather than a literal command for physical harm. In subsequent media appearances, the lawmaker added that members of all political parties in the district remain his constituents and denied advocating for bloodshed.
Despite the senator’s defense, the incident has heightened anxiety across the state. Security agencies have significantly bolstered their presence in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s vote, with over 25,000 personnel deployed from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other law enforcement bodies to ensure peace and prevent voter intimidation at polling units. Stakeholders continue to urge security authorities to investigate all threats of violence and enforce electoral laws strictly to guarantee a safe and transparent voting process.
