The Accord Party has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over an alleged call for the killing of its supporters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State. In a viral video, Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a campaign in Ilesha, asked his supporters to confront Accord Party members if they encounter them before the election. “If we hear of Accord Party in Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,” he said. The Senator in a statement by his media office later clarified that what he meant was “a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.” 10 Questions Every Nigerian Should Ask Those Who Seek to Govern Banditry: FG deploys fresh troops to Kwara In a statement on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, described the comments as “outrageous and reprehensible” and capable of heightening political tension in the state. Accord party called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest the senator and rein in his supporters to prevent violence ahead of the August 15 poll. “For a sitting senator to condescend so low to publicly threaten the lives of fellow compatriots days to the gubernatorial poll in the state is unjust and unacceptable,” the statement said. The party also called on the international community, including the European Union, United States and United Kingdom missions, as well as the African union and ECOWAS, to monitor developments in Osun and condemn activities capable of undermining the electoral process. Accord further alleged that more than 60 of its members had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State to prevent them from participating in the election. It urged authorities to release the detained members and stop any further arrests of its leaders and supporters. “Accord prepares for an election, not war. The political ambition of anybody is not worth the blood of fellow citizens,” the party said. It urged Osun residents to come out and vote freely, while calling for a peaceful, credible and inclusive election. The party also appealed to voters to support its candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom it described as a leader trusted to continue his work in the state.
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