Osun Election: Accord Party Demands Senator's Prosecution Over Alleged Threats

The Accord Party is calling for the immediate prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, accusing him of inciting violence against its members and supporters in Ijeshaland, Osun State. The party cited a campaign video circulating on social media, which they claim contains remarks threatening the lives of Accord members and supporters ahead of Saturday's governorship election.

In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, the Accord Party expressed grave concerns over voter safety, emphasizing that political contests should never jeopardize citizens' lives. The party stated that Fadahunsi, who represents the Osun East Senatorial District, allegedly made these remarks while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a campaign event.

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His outburst is outrageous and reprehensible, and has heightened the political tension in the state ahead of the governorship election.

The Accord Party urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent the alleged threat from escalating into violence, describing Fadahunsi's outburst as "outrageous and reprehensible" and a contributor to heightened political tension in the state. They specifically called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to apprehend Fadahunsi and control his supporters and alleged APC thugs.

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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.

Furthermore, the Accord Party alleged that more than 60 of its members have been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State. The party claims this is a deliberate tactic to prevent them from participating in the upcoming election and to create an advantage for the APC. They further alleged that the police are planning to arrest more of their leaders and members before the poll, labeling these actions as part of a broader effort to suppress their presence.

The party demanded the immediate release of those allegedly detained illegally and appealed to international bodies, including the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, the U.S. Embassy, the UK Embassy, the African Union, and ECOWAS, to monitor the situation in Osun. Accord insists that political competition should not be a pretext for threatening lives and condemned the alleged "theatre of the absurd and fear mongering."

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This theatre of the absurd and fear mongering must stop forthwith.