The Social-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy (SECRA) has called for an immediate investigation into remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, during a political gathering in Ilesa ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.
SECRA expressed grave concern over the timing, content and status of the person who made the remarks, particularly against the backdrop of prevailing security concerns in parts of the Ilesa axis and the sensitive political tension accompanying the forthcoming election.
Words Attributed to Senator Fadahunsi
According to SECRA, a video currently generating widespread concern captures Senator Fadahunsi making remarks which, according to the recording, include:
“If we hear of any Accord in Ilesa, in vote we will vote. Record me and say it anywhere. When we say, the bad cap, yellow-yellow, is rubbish. The cap of animal, the cap is killing. How many did APC killed? Or is it not your people that are killed? So, we are here to tell you, till the day of election, if we see them, it is killing. We cannot be looking and they kill. Kabiyesi should help call all those shouting.”
The Yoruba rendering of the relevant statement, as provided by SECRA, is:
“Tí a bá gbọ́ pé Accord wà ní Ìlesa, ìbò tí a ó dìbò ni. Ẹ gba ohùn mi sílẹ̀, kí ẹ sì sọ ọ́ níbikíbi. Nígbà tí a bá sọ pé a ti sọ ọ́, a ti sọ ọ́. Fìlà búburú, fìlà búburú, yellow-yellow, jẹ́ asán. Fìlà ẹranko, fìlà náà ń pa ènìyàn. Mélòó ni APC pa? Tàbí àwọn ènìyàn yín kì í ṣe àwọn tí wọ́n pa? Nítorí náà, a wà níbí láti sọ fún yín pé títí di ọjọ́ ìdìbò, tí a bá rí wọn, pípa ni. A kò lè máa wo wọn tí wọ́n sì ń pa ènìyàn. Kabiyesi yẹ kí ó ràn wá lọ́wọ́ kí ó pe gbogbo àwọn tí ń pariwo yẹn.”
SECRA said it was particularly concerned by the portion: “Till the day of election, if we see them, it is killing.” In Yoruba, the statement is rendered as: “Títí di ọjọ́ ìdìbò, tí a bá rí wọn, pípa ni.”
The organisation said that regardless of the intended interpretation of the statement, words of this nature, coming from a senior political figure only four days before a governorship election, have the capacity to create fear, tension and apprehension among political opponents, voters and ordinary citizens.
‘This Is Not the Voice of an Ordinary Political Supporter’
SECRA noted that Senator Fadahunsi is a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Osun East Senatorial District.
The organisation further stated that he is a former PDP senator who served in the National Assembly from 2019, was re-elected in 2023, subsequently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and remains a major political actor in Osun East.
SECRA said he is therefore a political figure whose words command considerable influence.
According to the organisation, a person occupying such a position should understand the consequences that inflammatory or potentially threatening statements can have when directed at political opponents, particularly in an environment where supporters can easily interpret the words of political leaders as encouragement or instruction.
“Political leaders must understand that political language has consequences,” SECRA said, stressing that four days to an election is not the time to raise the temperature of the political environment.
“It is the time to reassure citizens, protect political opponents, encourage peaceful participation and make it clear that political disagreements must be settled exclusively through the ballot,” the organisation added.
Ilesa and the Security Situation
SECRA said its concern was heightened by the security situation in and around the Ilesa axis.
The organisation said the people of Ijesaland deserve an election in which voters can walk into polling units without fear, political parties can mobilise peacefully, and citizens can return home safely after exercising their constitutional right to vote.
“The last thing Osun State needs at this critical moment is political rhetoric that could be interpreted as authorising, encouraging or normalising confrontation between political supporters,” SECRA said.
It therefore urged all political leaders, particularly those with substantial political influence, to exercise the highest level of restraint and responsibility.
SECRA Acknowledges Fadahunsi’s Clarification
SECRA also said it had taken note of Senator Fadahunsi’s subsequent explanation that his reference to “killing Accord” was intended to mean defeating the Accord Party politically through votes and not physically harming its members.
The organisation acknowledged the clarification but maintained that a subsequent explanation should not prevent the relevant authorities from examining the complete recording, the surrounding circumstances, the audience reaction and the exact meaning and potential impact of the words used.
“SECRA is not asking for anyone to be convicted through the media. We are asking for investigation, accountability and prevention,” the organisation said.
It argued that an impartial investigation is necessary not only to determine whether any law was breached, but also to prevent the statement from being misunderstood or exploited by political supporters in a manner capable of threatening public safety.
SECRA’s Warning and Commitment
SECRA said it would closely monitor and document incidents of political violence in the Ilesa axis before, during and for three months after the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The organisation stated that if any killing, serious assault, political violence, intimidation or other serious violation of citizens’ rights occurs within the Ilesa axis during this period, it would independently document the incident, gather available evidence and, where appropriate, pursue the matter through all lawful and constitutional means available to the organisation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this statement should not be interpreted as an allegation that Senator Fadahunsi will cause, encourage or be responsible for any future incident,” SECRA said.
“Rather, SECRA is placing all political actors and relevant authorities on notice that no incident of political violence will be ignored or swept under the carpet.”
The organisation added that where credible evidence establishes responsibility, those responsible must face the law, irrespective of their political party, position, influence or connections.
SECRA’s Demands
SECRA called on the Inspector-General of Police to urgently review the video and investigate the circumstances surrounding the remarks attributed to Senator Fadahunsi.
It urged the Osun State Police Command to strengthen preventive security measures across Ilesa and other identified political flashpoints, while maintaining strict political neutrality and ensuring equal protection for all political parties and citizens.
SECRA also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage all political parties and candidates and reinforce the requirement for peaceful electoral participation, while taking appropriate steps to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The organisation urged all political parties and their supporters to immediately reject violence, threats, intimidation, provocation and retaliation.
It called on traditional rulers, community leaders and religious leaders in Ijesaland to use their influence to calm political tensions and protect the lives and property of residents.
SECRA further called on Senator Fadahunsi and other political leaders to publicly and unequivocally instruct their supporters that no political opponent should be attacked, threatened, intimidated or prevented from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
‘The Ballot Box Must Decide’
SECRA reminded every political actor that Accord supporters have the same right to vote as APC supporters, adding that the same right belongs to PDP supporters and supporters of every other registered political party participating in the election.
“Every voter has the same right to participate freely and peacefully, irrespective of political affiliation,” the organisation said.
It stressed that nobody should be attacked because of the political party they support, prevented from reaching a polling unit or intimidated because of the candidate they intend to vote for.
SECRA further stated that nobody should interpret political rhetoric as a licence to commit violence, and nobody should be denied the right to participate in the electoral process because of political affiliation.
“The people of Osun State must be allowed to choose their governor through their votes,” SECRA said.
The organisation called on the people of Ilesa and the entire Osun State to remain calm, vigilant and peaceful before, during and after the election.
It equally called on the security agencies to protect every voter, every candidate and every political party equally, without fear or favour, while ensuring that no individual or political group is permitted to take the law into its own hands.
The statement was signed by Comrade Olowu Emmanuel Aiyedun, Executive Director, for the Social-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy (SECRA).
