Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has clarified his controversial remarks that went viral on social media, stating that he meant defeating the Accord Party with votes and not through violence.
The clarification follows the widespread circulation of a video in which the senator, while addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ilesa ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, was heard speaking in Yoruba in a manner that appeared to urge confrontation with members of the Accord Party.
In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” the lawmaker explained that his comment was “a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement added. It stressed that the remark was never intended to advocate violence, intimidation, or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political group.
Fadahunsi urged APC supporters and other political actors to maintain peace and obey the law before, during, and after the election. He also called on security operatives to ensure that voters are able to exercise their constitutional rights without hindrance.
The video of the original remarks was widely shared online, including by Afrobeats star David Adeleke (Davido), prompting public concern and calls for investigation from the campaign of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform.
Senator Fadahunsi maintained that his focus remains on a peaceful and democratic contest in which the APC defeats its opponents at the polls.