A senator whose viral comments urging members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “kill” members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election has sought to clarify his remarks after widespread outrage, as Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the statement and demanded an immediate retraction and apology.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, insisted that his controversial comments were never intended as a call for physical violence but were merely a political metaphor urging APC supporters to “kill” the Accord Party at the ballot box.
The clarification followed the circulation of a video in which the senator, speaking in Yoruba at a political gathering in Ilesa, was heard telling supporters that any Accord Party member seen before the election should be killed. The remarks triggered widespread criticism and fears that they could inflame tensions ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
In a statement issued Tuesday by his media office in Osogbo and titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” the lawmaker maintained that his comments had been deliberately misconstrued.
According to the statement, the senator’s remarks were made solely in the context of political competition and were intended to mobilise APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party through lawful democratic means rather than through violence.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement said, adding that the lawmaker had never advocated violence against any political party or member of the public.
It stressed that Fadahunsi’s consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the ballot and not by force.
“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,” the statement read.
The senator appealed to the public not to deliberately distort his comments and urged political actors, supporters and voters to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.
He also called on security agencies deployed for the election to remain impartial and ensure that every eligible voter is able to exercise his or her constitutional right without fear or intimidation.
Fadahunsi reaffirmed his commitment to democratic values, issue-based campaigns and a credible electoral process, insisting that the will of the electorate, freely expressed through the ballot, must ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
The clarification came after the viral video showed the senator making remarks widely interpreted as incitement.
Speaking to APC supporters in Ilesa, Fadahunsi was heard saying that if Accord Party members were seen in the area before election day, they should be killed.
“If we hear of Accord Party again in Ilesa here for the election coming up on Saturday, you can record me and say it anywhere,” he declared.
He also questioned his audience about alleged killings of APC supporters before stating: “Till the day of the election, if we see any Accord Party members, we’ll kill them. We cannot be watching.”
The senator further suggested that even Accord Party members possessing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would not be allowed to vote, while warning traditional rulers whom he accused of supporting the opposition party.
Reacting to the controversy, Peter Obi described the senator’s remarks as dangerous, inflammatory, and inconsistent with democratic principles.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Obi expressed “deep regret and profound concern” over what he described as “inflammatory comments and threat-laden rhetoric” attributed to the senator ahead of the election.
According to Obi, a serving senator occupies a position of enormous constitutional responsibility and should be promoting peace rather than making statements capable of inciting violence.
“It is alarming and unacceptable that a distinguished senator would deploy intimidation, incendiary remarks, or political threats capable of heightening tensions, instilling fear in voters, and potentially inciting electoral violence in Osun State,” Obi said.
He stressed that elections should remain a peaceful celebration of democracy in which citizens freely choose their leaders without intimidation, harassment, or coercion.
Obi warned that threats of violence undermine the credibility of the electoral process, disrespect the electorate, and endanger public peace.
He therefore called on Fadahunsi to withdraw the comments and apologise to the people of Osun State.
“I respectfully demand that Senator Fadahunsi retract these harmful statements and tender an apology to the peaceful people of Osun State,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor also urged political leaders across party lines to exercise restraint, moderate their language, and recommit themselves to peaceful democratic conduct.
He called on security agencies to closely monitor inflammatory statements and ensure equal protection for voters, election officials and all political actors before, during and after the polls.
“The democratic mandate belongs to the people, and no individual, regardless of status or political office, should attempt to subvert the will of the people through fear or coercion,” Obi added.
He urged residents of Osun State to remain peaceful and resolute as they exercise their constitutional right to vote, insisting that credible elections remain essential to building the “New Nigeria” he continues to advocate.
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