The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has linked President Bola Tinubu’s recent political rhetoric to controversial comments made by Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of the upcoming Osun State governorship election. Speaking on Arise News, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi expressed concern over the potential real-world impact of the president’s messaging on local political actors.

According to Abdullahi, the Senator may have interpreted President Tinubu’s recent assertion that “all is fair in politics” as an official endorsement or licence to deploy extreme measures. The opposition party fears such high-level statements lower the bar for political conduct, encouraging candidates to do whatever is necessary to secure an election victory.

Abdullahi made the allegation while appearing on Arise News on Wednesday, insisting that the president should be held responsible for the message political actors may have taken from his statement.

“I don’t want to blame Senator Fadahunsi. I blame President Bola Tinubu. He got his imprimatur for what he said from President Bola Tinubu.

“He got his authorisation from President Bola Tinubu,” Abdullahi said.

The recent questioning of Senator Francis Fadahunsi by the Osun State Police Command over campaign rally comments in Ilesa—which allegedly encouraged APC supporters to attack Accord Party members—highlights the dangerous real-world impact of political rhetoric, according to ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi. Abdullahi argued that inflammatory statements made by high-profile political leaders significantly influence the behavior of their followers, effectively lowering the bar for acceptable conduct and inciting violence during highly contested elections.

“When the President of the Federal Republic says ‘all is fair in politics,’ it means that you can maim, you can kill, you can steal, you can do whatever it takes, just deliver victory,” he said.

“A president doesn’t need to say everything. When a president says ‘all is fair in politics,’ you are authorising any kind of behaviour. A subordinate, someone who looks up to you, can interpret it anywhere they like,” Abdullahi added.

Tinubu had made the remark on July 28 while hosting the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a discussion on the 2027 political contest.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi expressed optimism that the ADC could win Saturday’s Osun election if the exercise is conducted transparently.

The party’s candidate, Najeem Salaam, is contesting against other major candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.

The ADC spokesman also expressed confidence that his party could win the election if the process is conducted freely and fairly.

The party is fielding Najeem Salaam as its candidate in the governorship election.

“If this is going to be a free and fair election, ADC will win this election,” Abdullahi said.

However, he raised concerns over what he described as the “militarisation” of Osun’s political space, arguing that the deployment of armed security personnel had raised questions about the credibility of the electoral process.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, with political parties and security agencies making final preparations for the poll.