The Osun State Police Command has summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi for questioning following a controversial statement in which he was allegedly heard telling supporters of the All Progressives Congress to “kill” members of the Accord Party ahead of the State’s governorship election.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, is expected to appear before the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
The invitation comes amid growing tension surrounding the forthcoming Osun governorship election and widespread reactions to a video of the Senator’s remarks, which has circulated across social media and other digital platforms.
According to the invitation letter dated August 11 and signed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in Osun State, Samuel Etaifo Erale, the Senator was asked to clarify the circumstances surrounding the comments attributed to him during an All Progressives Congress campaign programme in Ilesa.
The police said the invitation was based on information received concerning statements allegedly made by the lawmaker during his address at the campaign.
The Command expressed concern that the remarks were threatening and capable of inciting people, particularly because the video had already gained significant attention on electronic and social media platforms.
The police stated that the Senator’s appearance was necessary to enable investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding the statement and determine whether any offence had been committed.
The development has added another layer of controversy to an already heated political atmosphere in Osun State, where political parties and their supporters have intensified campaigns ahead of the governorship election.
Fadahunsi, however, has rejected the interpretation that he was calling for physical attacks against members or supporters of the Accord Party.
In a statement released through his media office in Osogbo on Tuesday, the Senator explained that his use of the word “kill” was political and metaphorical.
The statement was titled, “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC.”
According to his media office, the Senator was urging APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party through their votes rather than through violence or any unlawful action.
It explained that the controversial expression was intended to encourage Party members to work towards an overwhelming electoral victory over their political opponents at the ballot box.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement said.
His media office further maintained that Fadahunsi did not ask APC supporters to physically attack members of the Accord Party or engage in any act of violence.
Instead, it said the Senator was calling on APC supporters to use the democratic process to reject the Accord Party during the August 15 governorship election.
The clarification followed the backlash generated by the video of the Senator’s address, with Nigerians and political observers expressing concern over the language used at a time when political campaigns in the State have become increasingly competitive.
The controversy also comes against the backdrop of previous disagreements and allegations involving political parties and security agencies in Osun State.
In July, the Imole Campaign Council and the Osun State Police Command clashed publicly over the arrest of Popoola Alaba, the Accord Party candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency.
The Campaign Council had alleged that Alaba and other Accord members were arrested by police officers linked to Fadahunsi and accused the Senator of masterminding the action.
The police rejected the allegation, explaining that Alaba’s arrest was connected to a petition alleging illegal mining and other offences. Fadahunsi’s media adviser also denied any involvement by the Senator and described the allegations as baseless.
The latest invitation therefore comes at a particularly sensitive period for Osun politics, with political parties seeking to mobilise supporters while security agencies face pressure to prevent violence before, during and after the election.
The police have not indicated that Fadahunsi has been arrested or formally charged with an offence. The invitation, based on the available information, is for questioning and clarification over the statement attributed to him.
The Senator’s response that the expression was metaphorical is expected to form part of the issues considered when he appears before investigators.
Political language involving words associated with violence has remained a sensitive issue during Nigerian election campaigns, particularly where such comments are recorded and circulated widely online.
The controversy also highlights the potential consequences of statements made at campaign rallies, where remarks intended as political rhetoric can attract public scrutiny or be interpreted differently when taken outside their original context.
For the police, the central issue is whether the statement amounted to a genuine threat or incitement, or whether it was simply a figurative reference to defeating a political opponent through the electoral process.
For Fadahunsi and his supporters, the explanation is that the Senator was speaking in political terms and urging voters to defeat the Accord Party democratically.
The Accord Party, meanwhile, remains one of the major political forces involved in the Osun contest. The Party’s prominence in the election has made exchanges between it and the APC increasingly significant as the poll approaches.
Earlier in 2026, Fadahunsi was among prominent Osun politicians who moved from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC. He and other lawmakers formally joined the ruling Party in February, a development that intensified political realignment ahead of the governorship election.
The Senator’s invitation is therefore likely to attract further political attention as the election draws closer.
For now, Fadahunsi is expected to report to the SCID in Osogbo at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, where he will be questioned about the remarks attributed to him.
The outcome of the police interaction could determine whether the matter ends with clarification or develops into a more formal investigation.
With the election approaching, the incident has once again placed the issue of responsible political communication and the prevention of electoral violence at the centre of public debate in Osun State.
Both political parties and security agencies are expected to remain under close scrutiny as the State moves towards the August 15 governorship poll.
The immediate focus, however, will be on Fadahunsi’s appearance before the police and his explanation of the controversial “kill Accord” remark.