Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment

Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment

Human rights lawyer calls for visa restrictions and other punitive measures against the Osun East senator, describing his alleged remarks as a dangerous incitement to violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has formally petitioned the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, urging them to impose sanctions on Senator Francis Fadahunsi over his controversial “kill Accord” comment. Adeyanju made this known while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, where he called on the three Western nations to consider visa restrictions and other appropriate measures against the Osun East senator.

The controversy stems from a viral video in which Senator Fadahunsi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , was heard speaking in Yoruba and allegedly urging his supporters to attack members of the rival Accord Party ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election. The video, which surfaced on social media, has sparked widespread outrage and heightened political tension in the state.

Adeyanju described the senator’s alleged remarks as “unfortunate” and “regrettably threatening,” arguing that they amounted to an attempt to encourage violence against members of the Accord Party. “Again, that takes me to the unfortunate remarks that we’ve just heard of Senator Fadahunsi, very regrettably threatening that members of the Accord Party be killed,” Adeyanju said on the programme. He maintained that it was “very clear” to him that the senator was allegedly engineering attacks against members of the party.

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The human rights lawyer said his petition was intended to draw the attention of the three countries, particularly the United States, which has consistently expressed interest in promoting democracy in Nigeria and has warned against political violence. He argued that international pressure could help discourage politicians from making inflammatory statements capable of provoking violence during elections. Adeyanju also called on all leading candidates in the Osun governorship race to publicly condemn threats and violence against political opponents.

Adeyanju expressed concern over the political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election, saying the level of violence and tension preceding the poll was alarming. “For a very long time, we’ve not witnessed this level of violence preceding an election,” he said. His concerns are echoed by a pre-election security assessment by the Kimpact Development Initiative, which recorded 73 election-related violent incidents and 29 fatalities within its assessment period, with 78 per cent of incidents occurring between May and July 2026 as political campaigns intensified.

Senator Fadahunsi, however, has clarified his remarks, insisting that his comment was purely political and metaphorical. In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday and titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” the senator explained that he was calling on APC supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful, and democratic means. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement read.

The senator’s media office maintained that the remark did not portray Fadahunsi as an advocate of violence against members of the Accord Party or any other political organisation. “At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force,” the statement added. Fadahunsi also urged APC supporters and other political actors in the state to maintain peace and respect the law throughout the electoral process.

The development comes amid mounting tension in Osun State as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll. Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the banner of the Accord Party, has already called for the arrest and prosecution of Senator Fadahunsi over the alleged incitement to violence. The police have since summoned the senator for questioning over the viral comments, with the invitation letter dated August 11, 2026, ordering Fadahunsi to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo on Wednesday, August 12, at 11:00 am.

Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment