DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

PDP demands probe into Fadahunsi’s viral election remarks

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an investigation into alleged threats of violence made by Senator Francis Fadahunsi against political opponents.
  • The PDP condemned Fadahunsi's reported comments, describing them as uncivilized and unacceptable in a democracy, linking them to a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
  • The party urged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to cease anti-democratic narratives and emphasized that election outcomes should reflect the voters' will.

Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for an investigation into comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, which were reportedly captured in a viral video threatening violence against political opponents ahead of the 2027 elections. The PDP described the senator's remarks as "uncivilised and unacceptable in a democracy."

So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing.

— Senator Francis FadahunsiReported quote from a viral video, cited by the PDP as a threat against political opponents.

In the video, Fadahunsi was quoted as saying, "So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing." The PDP condemned this statement, arguing that political contests should allow citizens to freely choose leaders, not serve as platforms for threats and violence. The opposition party also drew parallels between Fadahunsi's remarks and what they characterized as a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing past statements by the APC's presidential candidate.

Nigerians and the international community received the senator’s reported comments with “tremendous shock,” describing the remarks as uncivilised and unacceptable in a democracy.

— Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Statement condemning Senator Fadahunsi's alleged remarks.

The PDP asserted that such rhetoric contributes to unprecedented political tension in the country, emphasizing that elections are intended to be opportunities for citizens to select representatives, not "do-or-die contests." The party accused the ruling party of normalizing "warlike rhetoric" to intimidate opponents and manipulate election outcomes.

Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant… At all cost, fight for it, grab it, and run with it.

— APC Presidential CandidatePast statement cited by the PDP as an example of inflammatory rhetoric from the ruling party.

Specifically, the PDP demanded an investigation into the Fadahunsi incident and other alleged threats to peaceful elections in Osun State. They urged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to abandon "anti-democratic narratives and threats" and called for civility in political communication, insisting that election results must genuinely reflect the will of the voters.

These and many more hurtful rhetorics have been deployed by the ruling party unapologetically.

— Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Statement linking Senator Fadahunsi's alleged comments to broader APC rhetoric.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog