The Osun State Police Command on Wednesday interrogated Senator Francis Fadahunsi , representing Osun East, for approximately two hours regarding allegations of inciting violence following a viral video wherein he appeared to state, “Kill any Accord member,” during a protest at the Owa Obokun of Ilesaland’s palace. This police action was initiated at the request of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who demanded the senator’s arrest.

The protest in Ilesa, triggered by the reported killing of 12 All Progressives Congress (APC) members, significantly intensified political tensions ahead of the election. Senator Francis Fadahunsi denied making violent threats, clarifying that his remarks were a call to “kill Accord Party in Osun with their votes” while alleging over 40 APC members had been killed in his district .

Following the circulation of the video, the police issued an invitation on Tuesday. Fadahunsi arrived at the Osun police headquarters on Wednesday, at approximately 2:25 PM, accompanied by an aide.

Initially heading toward the Commissioner of Police’s office, he was redirected to the Department of Criminal Investigation (CID).

There, he was led into an interrogation room by the Commissioner of Police in charge of election duty, Samuel Erale Etifo, alongside other senior officers.

Journalists were barred from the interrogation room where Senator Francis Fadahunsi spent nearly two hours, which included a brief 20-minute transfer to the Commissioner’s office before returning to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Throughout his debriefing, Fadahunsi was accompanied by a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, alongside legal practitioner Edmund Biriomoni. Following the session, the police subsequently released the senator.

Following his release at approximately 4:58 PM, Senator Francis Fadahunsi addressed the waiting press to clarify the circumstances surrounding his interrogation, asserting that he voluntarily honored the police invitation to correct the narrative regarding a widely circulated video. The two-term lawmaker staunchly defended his remarks, arguing that the footage had been deliberately distorted by mischievous political detractors who chose to misinterpret his use of the Yoruba language. Emphasizing his identity as a native Yoruba speaker, Fadahunsi explained that the language is rich with nuances and metaphors that can easily be misconstrued by individuals from other ethnic backgrounds, such as the Hausa or Igbo, or by those with malicious intent. He firmly maintained that his statement was a purely democratic figure of speech, intended to rally supporters to heavily defeat opposition parties at the ballot box rather than an incitement to physical violence.

Shifting his focus to the broader political landscape, the Senator raised serious alarms over the rapidly deteriorating security climate within his constituency of Osun East. He openly accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of deliberately turning the senatorial district into a volatile political battleground, pointing out an alleged double standard where the Governor’s own hometown remains peaceful while Osun East bears the brunt of targeted hostility. Describing the escalating tensions as deeply worrisome, Fadahunsi stated that the party had committed its ultimate safety to divine intervention, remaining resolute in the face of ongoing provocations.

Despite the prevailing security anxieties and reports of widespread intimidation by political thugs, Fadahunsi expressed unwavering confidence in a massive, historic voter turnout for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Saturday election. He assured journalists that the electorate would not be deterred by scare tactics and would turn out en masse to cast their ballots for the APC’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) [Kemi Filani News]. After concluding his address and reaffirming his party’s readiness for the polls, the lawmaker finally departed the premises of the state police command.