By The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has formally demanded the arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over a viral video in which he is heard inciting violence against members of the Accord Party, just four days to Saturday’s governorship election.
In a press statement signed by Rep. Bamidele Salam, the council’s Chairman of Media and Publicity, TICC said it was “gravely alarmed and disturbed” by the trending video, in which the Osun East senator is heard urging others to kill Accord members and supporters wherever they are found in Ijeshaland. The council said the footage had since been “confirmed by several persons.”
The campaign linked the video to intelligence it says it has gathered over the past few weeks, pointing to the importation of thugs, hoodlums and fake police operatives into Ilase, Fadahunsi’s hometown, and into other towns across Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East and West, and Atakumosa East and West local government areas.
TICC further alleged that in the same video, Fadahunsi invoked “federal might” to threaten that his thugs would prevent Accord supporters from voting on Saturday even if they showed up at polling units with valid voter cards.
Council Demands IGP, DSS Action
Describing the senator’s conduct as “despicable” and unbecoming of a lawmaker who swore to uphold the Constitution, TICC called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to order Fadahunsi’s arrest and prosecution under Nigerian law.
The council also demanded heightened security deployment across the six local government areas of Ijeshaland to protect Accord members and other residents intending to vote, and called for security agencies to flush out armed thugs and unauthorised persons it says have been quartered in Ilase-Ijesha and neighbouring communities.
TICC put the senator on notice that it would hold him personally responsible for any violence against Accord members in Ijeshaland or elsewhere in the state, and vowed to pursue accountability “in accordance with local and international law” should such violence occur.
IRT Unit and Abducted Candidate
The statement drew renewed attention to the activities of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), which the council alleged Fadahunsi has repeatedly boasted of deploying to harass and intimidate Accord leaders. It named an aide, ASP Wemimo, as the officer who has led IRT personnel on visits to the homes of Accord leaders in Ijeshaland in recent weeks.
TICC also renewed calls for the release of its House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South, Alaba Popoola, who the council says was abducted on Fadahunsi’s instructions and remains in police custody.
Council Urges Voters to Defy Threats
Despite the allegations, TICC urged residents of Ijeshaland to remain calm and law-abiding, while charging them to defy the senator’s alleged threats and turn out “en masse” to vote for their preferred candidates in Saturday’s election.
AfrikTimes has reached out to Senator Fadahunsi’s office for a response to both the viral video and the allegations contained in TICC’s statement. This report will be updated with any reaction received.
