Senator Francis Fadahunsi has denied inciting violence ahead of the Osun State governorship election, clarifying that his use of the word "kill" in a viral video was metaphorical and referred to defeating opponents at the ballot box. He made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, responding to a shortened clip of a 24-minute speech that had sparked controversy. Fadahunsi insisted he does not preach violence and said the video was deliberately edited to misrepresent his statement. He claimed the full context showed he was urging supporters to respond to alleged attacks on APC members by defeating opponents through votes, not physical force.
Fadahunsi said his comments were in reaction to reports of killings and assaults on party members in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State, which he attributed to thugs linked to the Accord Party. He maintained that his statement — "if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate" — was a call for justice, not a threat of violence. He accused musician Davido and lawyer Olajengbesi of circulating an edited version of his speech for political gain, reducing 24 minutes of footage to under two minutes to create a misleading narrative. The senator emphasized that his intent was to highlight ongoing violence against his party's members and to demand police intervention.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the viral clip, accusing Fadahunsi of inciting violence and "genocide" against Accord Party members. Fadahunsi rejected the accusation, reiterating that his words were taken out of context and that he supports electoral, not physical, confrontation.
Fadahunsi claims his call for retaliation was conditional on ongoing violence against APC members, yet frames his own rhetoric as purely electoral. This distinction matters to voters assessing whether political speech crosses into incitement ahead of a tense election. The governor's demand for police investigation suggests the comment is being treated as a potential threat, not just political rhetoric.
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