Lawmaker says viral video was edited to misrepresent his Yoruba remarks as police continue investigation ahead of Saturday’s election.
Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, has denied directing his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party and their relatives, insisting that a viral video was edited to misrepresent his remarks.
Fadahunsi spoke on Wednesday after being interrogated by the police at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo over the controversial video, in which he allegedly made the remarks in Yoruba.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, the senator said his reference to “killing” the Accord Party was about defeating the party with votes in Saturday’s governorship election, not physically attacking its members.
Fadahunsi said the full video, which he claimed lasted about 38 minutes, would show that his remarks had been taken out of context. He also expressed concern over recent killings in his constituency, alleging that the attacks were intended to discourage voters from supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senator maintained that he was referring to the alleged killing of APC members by thugs in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State.
The development followed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s demand for Fadahunsi’s arrest and investigation over the video, which the governor described as a national security threat and an alleged attempt to incite violence against Accord Party supporters.
Amnesty International also called on authorities to hold the senator accountable over the remarks attributed to him, warning that statements advocating violence could threaten Saturday’s election.
Meanwhile, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu Okokon, confirmed that Fadahunsi had been interrogated and said the investigation was ongoing.
Okokon said the outcome of the investigation would be made public after its conclusion, while assuring residents that adequate security measures had been deployed to protect voters and election officials during Saturday’s governorship election.