By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
OSOGBO, NIGERIA — The Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, has departed the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo following several hours of interrogation by state security officials.
The lawmaker reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at approximately 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police overseeing election security, Samuel Erale. The invitation followed a viral video from an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Ilesa, in which his Yoruba comments were interpreted as instructing supporters to target members of the rival Accord Party.
Key Operational Highlights
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Police Investigation: The Osun State Police Command issued an invitation directing Fadahunsi to clarify remarks described as potentially threatening, inciting, and capable of heightening political tension.
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Fadahunsi’s Clarification: Addressing journalists after the closed-door session, Fadahunsi rejected claims of inciting physical violence, insisting that his Yoruba remarks were metaphorically calling on supporters to “kill” the opposition’s momentum at the ballot box through peaceful voting.
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Reactions from Adeleke and Rights Groups: Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke had called for the lawmaker’s arrest over the video, while Amnesty International issued a statement calling on security agencies to ensure political actors are held accountable for remarks capable of provoking conflict.
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Police Command Assurance: Police authorities confirmed that the interrogation was concluded, investigations remain ongoing, and comprehensive security deployments have been instituted to safeguard voters and election personnel across Osun State.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SENATOR FADAHUNSI POLICE INTERROGATION MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Subject : Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) │
│ • Forum : Osun State Police Command HQ, Osogbo (SCID) │
│ • Incident Date : Wednesday, August 12, 2026 │
│ │
│ • Issue Under Review : Viral campaign video containing controversial │
│ Yoruba remarks at an Ilesa rally │
│ │
│ • Senator's Defense : Video edited/misinterpreted; reference was to │
│ defeating political rivals with votes │
│ │
│ • Official Status : Interrogation completed; police investigation │
│ remains ongoing │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘“We Will Kill Them With Our Votes”
“We have met, and I have told them what I said, not the one manipulated by mischievous interpreters of our language. I am a Yoruba man… We said, come Saturday, election, we will kill them with our votes. Go and look at the video; it is almost 38 minutes.” — Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Osun East Senatorial District
“The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said… I was addressing what I described as the continued violence and attacks against our members in Ilesa and other parts of the state.” — Senator Francis Fadahunsi
