Prosecute Fadahunsi over remarks, Adeleke campaign spokesperson urges police

The spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Governorship Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate and prosecute Senator Francis Fadahunsi. Olajengbesi stated that evidence must establish that Fadahunsi's remarks during the recent Osun State governorship election constituted an offense.

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When the first threat attracts no meaningful consequence, the second politician becomes bolder. When the second goes unpunished, a third follows. Eventually, intimidation becomes normalised as an instrument of electoral politics.

Olajengbesi expressed concern over the increasing use of threats and inflammatory statements by political figures, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. He cited a video from before the August 15 Osun election, where Fadahunsi, representing the Osun East Senatorial District, made remarks against members of the Accord Party. These remarks drew public criticism, and Fadahunsi was subsequently invited and questioned by the police before being released without prosecution.

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Words have consequences, particularly when they come from influential political figures addressing charged supporters during an election.

The campaign spokesperson emphasized that political actors should persuade voters through their records and policies, not through threats or intimidation. He warned that a lack of appropriate consequences from law enforcement for inflammatory statements could embolden others. "When the first threat attracts no meaningful consequence, the second politician becomes bolder," Olajengbesi said, adding that such intimidation could become normalized in electoral politics.

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The Nigeria Police Force must therefore make an example of Senator Fadahunsi through the due process of investigation and prosecution where the evidence establishes an offence.

Olajengbesi stressed the seriousness of inflammatory rhetoric during elections due to its potential to incite violence. He urged the police to act lawfully in the allegations against Fadahunsi, stating, "The Nigeria Police Force must therefore make an example of Senator Fadahunsi through the due process of investigation and prosecution where the evidence establishes an offence." He warned that Nigeria cannot afford to enter the 2027 elections with political threats and intimidation becoming accepted features of its democracy.

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If we fail to confront this culture now, we risk entering the 2027 elections with political threats and intimidation gradually becoming accepted features of our democracy.