-
APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi honours police invitation over his controversial “Kill Accord” remarks ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
-
The lawmaker spends more than two hours with investigators, insisting his comments were mistranslated and never intended to incite violence.
-
Fadahunsi tells police he urged supporters to “kill Accord with votes,” not through physical attacks, describing the remark as a political metaphor.
-
The interrogation comes amid heightened security concerns and mounting calls for restraint as Osun prepares for one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle elections.
August 12, (THEWILL) — Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, on Wednesday honoured an invitation by the Nigeria Police Force and appeared before investigators at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo over his controversial “Kill Accord” remarks, which have stirred political controversy ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
THEWILL reports that Senator Fadahunsi was questioned for more than two hours by detectives over comments contained in a viral video in which he was alleged to have urged supporters to “kill any Accord member” during a political gathering in Ilesa.
The invitation followed widespread public outrage after the video surfaced on social media, prompting the police to investigate whether the remarks amounted to incitement capable of undermining public peace and the credibility of the August 15 governorship poll.
Fadahunsi arrived at the command headquarters at about 2:25 p.m., accompanied by an aide.
READ ALSO:Osun Election: Atiku Warns Tinubu, Says Police, Military, INEC Must Not Serve APC
Kill Accord& Video Lands APC Senator In Police Net As Osun Election Tension Boils Over
Osun Poll: Police Draw Red Line, Warn Political Thugs, Outlaw Non-State Security Groups Ahead Of August 15 Election
He initially headed for the office of the Commissioner of Police before he was directed to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where he was received by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Security, Samuel Erale Etifo, and other senior officers.
Although, journalists were denied access to the interrogation room, THEWILL however gathered that the senator remained with investigators for about one hour and 57 minutes before he was taken to the office of the Commissioner of Police for further discussions lasting about 20 minutes.
He was later returned to the SCID, where he was joined by former Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, and legal practitioner Edmund Biriomoni.
Fadahunsi was released at about 4:58 p.m., with the police yet to announce whether further action would be taken.
Speaking with journalists after his release, the senator said he voluntarily honoured the police invitation and explained the actual meaning of his comments.
“I came here to honour the police invitation. We have met, and I told them what I said, not the one manipulated by the mischievous interpreters of the Yoruba language,” he said.
Rejecting allegations that he called for violence, Fadahunsi insisted that his statement had been misunderstood or deliberately mistranslated.
“I am a Yoruba man. If a Hausa or Igbo person is interpreting, it may not be correct. Yoruba means a lot of things. What I said was that between now and Saturday, we will kill them with our votes,” he explained.
According to the senator, his remarks were intended to mobilise APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party democratically at the ballot box and not to encourage violence against political opponents.
He also expressed concern over the security situation in Osun East Senatorial District, alleging that the area had become a flashpoint of political violence.
“It is worrisome, but we have left the whole thing to the owner of life. Come Saturday, you will see a marvellous turnout for APC,” he said.
Fadahunsi further expressed confidence that supporters of the APC would turn out in large numbers to elect the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), despite what he described as intimidation by political thugs.
Background
The controversy erupted after a viral video showed the senator addressing APC supporters in Ilesa, where critics alleged he instructed them to attack members of the Accord Party ahead of the governorship election.
The remarks triggered widespread condemnation from opposition parties, civil society organisations and election observers, while Governor Ademola Adeleke called for the senator’s arrest, describing the comments as a threat to peace.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission, have repeatedly warned political actors against hate speech, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric capable of provoking violence before, during and after Saturday’s election.
Fadahunsi has consistently maintained that his statement was purely metaphorical and intended to urge supporters to “kill Accord with votes” rather than through violence, insisting that elections should be decided by the ballot and not by bloodshed.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
