Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to prosecute Senator Francis Fadahunsi over remarks in a viral video involving the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
Effiong criticised the decision to release the Osun East senator after he was questioned by the police, arguing that the remarks could worsen political tensions and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Fadahunsi was invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo after a video circulated online in which he appeared to refer to “killing” members of the Accord Party in Ilesa.
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The senator later explained that his comments were metaphorical, saying he was referring to defeating the Accord Party with votes at the ballot box rather than physically harming its members.
Effiong rejected the explanation, describing it as “pedestrian, childish and feeble” and arguing that such language was particularly dangerous in the final days before an election.
According to the lawyer, the alleged statement could heighten political tensions, discourage voters from turning out and potentially incite supporters of the All Progressives Congress against members of Accord and other political parties.
“The Senator’s incendiary statement has heightened the already tense political atmosphere in the state,” Effiong said.
He also faulted the Osun State Police Command for questioning and subsequently releasing Fadahunsi without further action.
Effiong called on Disu to order the senator’s arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction, saying prosecution would demonstrate the police’s commitment to neutrality.
The lawyer argued that allowing the matter to end with questioning could send the wrong message to political actors ahead of the election.
His demand comes against the backdrop of wider concerns over political violence and police neutrality in Osun.
The state has witnessed several disputes involving political parties and security agencies in the build-up to the August 15 governorship election.
In July, the Imole Campaign Council and the Osun State Police Command clashed over the arrest of Accord Party House of Representatives candidate Popoola Alaba.
The campaign council alleged that Alaba and other Accord members were arrested by officers linked to Fadahunsi’s security team and accused the police of political interference.
The police rejected that characterisation, saying Alaba was arrested over a petition alleging illegal mining and that those involved were being investigated.
The controversy has added to existing concerns about the neutrality of security agencies as political parties intensify their campaigns.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had also accused several APC figures, including Fadahunsi, of aiding political violence and called for economic sanctions and visa restrictions against them. The APC disputed the allegations.
Effiong said the police must demonstrate that political affiliation would not influence the handling of cases during the election period.
“The prosecution of the Senator will equally demonstrate to Nigerians that he is non-partisan and impartial,” he said.
He warned that failure to act could undermine public confidence in the police and embolden political actors and their supporters to use threats or intimidation during political engagements.
Fadahunsi has not been charged over the remarks and has maintained that his reference to “killing” was a political metaphor.
The dispute now places additional attention on the police and other security agencies as Osun voters prepare to choose their next governor on Saturday.
With the election only days away, political leaders and security authorities face renewed pressure to keep the campaign environment peaceful and ensure that inflammatory statements do not translate into violence.
