By Abiodun Emmanuel
The political atmosphere in Osun State has come under renewed scrutiny following the circulation of a video purportedly showing Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, making remarks interpreted by some viewers as a call for violence against supporters of the Accord Party.
The video, which is circulating on social media ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, has generated public concern and renewed calls for political actors, security agencies and electoral stakeholders to take every allegation of incitement seriously.
Senator Fadahunsi represents Osun East, a politically significant senatorial district covering Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Obokun and Oriade Local Government Areas. The district encompasses major communities including Ilesa and Ile-Ife and remains an important battleground in Osun politics.
In the video circulating online, the senator is purportedly seen addressing a political gathering in Ilesa while speaking in Yoruba.
Some portions of the recording have been interpreted as the senator allegedly urging APC supporters to “kill” Accord Party supporters. He was also purportedly heard challenging those present to record and circulate his remarks.
However, the authenticity, context and completeness of the video have not been independently established by this publication.
In an election environment where inflammatory videos can be manipulated, selectively edited, mistranslated or taken out of context, allegations of this magnitude require competent investigation rather than conclusions based solely on social media circulation.
At the same time, the seriousness of the allegation cannot be dismissed simply because the material is circulating online.
Following the controversy, Senator Fadahunsi, through his media office, issued a statement titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC.”
In the statement, the senator said his remarks were political and metaphorical, explaining that he was calling on APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party through the ballot box.
He denied advocating violence, intimidation or physical attacks, stressing that elections should be decided by the votes of citizens rather than force.
The senator also urged his supporters and the wider electorate to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
His explanation provides an important part of the story and should be considered alongside the contents of the video.
But where an alleged statement has the potential to encourage violence during an election period, clarification alone should not replace independent verification.
The appropriate response at this stage is not trial by social media. It is a prompt, transparent and professional investigation.
The Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security and electoral authorities should establish:
- whether the video is authentic;
- whether it has been edited or manipulated;
- when and where it was recorded;
- the full context of the remarks;
- whether the words attributed to the senator were accurately translated and reported;
- whether the remarks amount to incitement or constitute any offence under applicable Nigerian law; and
- whether any individual or group has acted on, or intends to act on, the alleged statement.
The campaign council of Governor Ademola Adeleke has reportedly called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate the matter and take appropriate action if the video is found to contain threats or incitement.
That request deserves to be treated on its merits, just as Senator Fadahunsi’s denial and explanation deserve to be fairly considered.
Punitive Measures Must Follow Proven Incitement, as Nigeria cannot afford to treat political incitement as ordinary campaign rhetoric.
Where an investigation establishes that a political actor, supporter, influencer or any other individual deliberately called for violence, threatened opponents or encouraged attacks because of political affiliation, the law should take its course without fear or favour.
Appropriate sanctions should be pursued where legally justified, including prosecution under applicable laws, disciplinary or regulatory measures within the relevant institutions, and other lawful penalties available to the authorities.
Equally, anyone who deliberately fabricates, materially manipulates or maliciously distributes a false video with the intention of provoking violence should also face appropriate legal consequences where the evidence establishes an offence.
The principle must be simple, Political speech is protected; incitement to violence is not.
And that principle must apply equally to APC, PDP, Accord, NDC and every other political party.
No Political Contest Is Worth a Human Life
Osun has a long history of intense political competition, and the days leading to an election are precisely when political leaders should exercise the greatest restraint.
Candidates and their supporters have every right to campaign, criticise opponents, mobilise voters and seek electoral victory.
What no political actor should have the right to do is intimidate citizens, threaten opponents or encourage violence.
The electorate should be allowed to choose freely, Security agencies should protect voters without political bias and voters apathy should not be allowed to thrive in such an election.
Political parties should instruct their supporters to avoid confrontation and political leaders, particularly serving lawmakers and senior public figures, should understand that their words carry enormous weight.
A careless statement at a political gathering can travel far beyond its original audience and potentially become a rallying cry for violence.
Election Victory Must Come Through the Ballot, meaning that the Senator Fadahunsi’s stated position, that political opponents should be defeated through votes rather than violence is one that him, his party and every political actor should embrace and the same standard must apply across the political divide.
APC supporters should be free to vote for APC, Accord supporters should be free to vote for Accord, PDP supporters should be free to vote for PDP and NDC supporters should be free to vote for NDC, ditto other parties participating in every election, while every eligible citizen should be able to make that choice without fear, intimidation or violence.
The responsibility now rests with the authorities to determine the facts surrounding the viral video and, where wrongdoing is established, impose the appropriate lawful sanctions, there should be no selective justice, no political cover and no persecution, those who incite violence should be held accountable.
Those who manufacture or deliberately weaponise false material to provoke violence should equally be held accountable.
But those who have been falsely accused should not be condemned without due process.
That is how a democracy protects both public safety and the rule of law.
As Osun approaches the August 15 governorship election, the message to all political actors should be unequivocal:
Campaign hard, Debate ideas, Mobilise voters, Win votes, But do not turn political rivalry into a licence for violence.
No political ambition is worth a single human life.
The people of Osun deserve an election in which the strongest weapon is the ballot, not the bullet, threat or mob actions.
The will of the people, freely expressed through the ballot, must prevail.
